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Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Digest 

1810-1919 


COMPREHENDING  A   SUCCINCT   HISTORY   OF    THE 
CUMBERLAND  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH;  A  CLEAR 
STATEMENT  OF  ITS  ORGANIC  LAWS;  TOGETH- 
ER  WITH   A   FAITHFUL  PANDECT  OF  THE 
JUDICIAL  DELIVERANCES  OF  ITS  HIGH- 
EST JUDICATORY,    THE   GENERAL 
ASSEMBLY;   AND  A  REVISION 
OF    MR.    STEPHENS'    AD- 
MIRABLE   WORK. 


COMPILED  BY  THE 

REV.  A.  C.  BIDDLE 

(Under  Act  of  the  Eighty-Seventh  General  Assembly) 


THE  PROPERTY  OF  THE  ASSEMBLY 


NASHVILLE,  TENN. 
NEW  CUMBERLAND  PRESS 
-1919- 


Copyright  by 

General  Assembly  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian   Church 

Rev.  J.  H.  Zwingle,  Moderator 

1920 


INTRODUCTION 


At  the  General  Assembly  held  at  Birmingham,  Ala.,  in  1916,  I  had 
the  honor  of  being  Chairman  of  the  Judiciary  Committee  of  that 
body.  Many  matters  of  importance  were  referred  to  this  Committee, 
and  there  was  much  time  wasted  because  there  was  no  Digest  of  the 
deliverances  of  the  General  Assembly,  since  the  one  compiled  by  Rev. 
J.  V.  Stephens  and  published  in  1899. 

The  need  of  a  new  Digest,  or  one  to  at  least  fill  up  the  gap  from 
1899  down  to  date,  was  so  evident  that  a  Committee  was  appointed  at 
that  time  to  prepare  an  entirely  new  Digest.  I  had  the  honor  of  be- 
ing on  this  Committee,  but  on  account  of  my  entering  the  aiTny  im- 
mediately thereafter  I  was  unable  to  do  anything  to  assist;  and  it 
fell  to  the  lot  of  my  former  pastor  and  friend,  the  Rev.  A.  C.  Biddle, 
to  do  the  work. 

The  result  speaks  for  itself.  The  whole  Church  will  greet  with  ap- 
proval the  announcement  that  a  new  Assembly  Digest  has  been  com- 
pleted, in  which  all  rulings  of  the  highest  court  of  our  Church  have 
been  digested  and  brought  down  to  date. 

Every  minister,  as  well  as  every  session  clerk,  in  the  entire  Church, 
should  at  once  secure  a  copy;  and  there  shall  be  greater  intelligence 
and  harmony  and  the  saving  of  much  valuable  time  in  all  our  Church 
courts,  as  a  result  of  the  splendid  efforts  of  Brother  Biddle  in  the 
compilation  of  our  new  Cumberland  Digest.  No  man  in  the  denomi- 
nation was  better  suited  for  the  careful  painstaking  work  i-e  quired  in 
the  preparation  of  the  Digest  than  was  he;  and  the  Church  at  large, 
I  am  sure,  will  appreciate  and  be  grateful  for  the  zeal  and  energy 
that  w^ere  required  to  produce  such  a  work. 

Bowling  Green,  Ky.  Henry  H.  Denhardt. 


ASSEMBLY'S  WARRANT  FOR  THIS 
DIGEST 


For  some  years  past  our  various  Church  Courts  have  been  serious- 
ly feeling  the  need  of  a  new  Digest  of  Assembly  deliverances,  or  at 
least  a  revision  of  the  Stephens'  Digest,  which  should  also  include 
the  deliverances  of  the  last  twenty  Assemblies.  Accordingly,  at  the 
Eighty-Sixth  meeting  of  the  Assembly,  held  at  Birmingham,  Ala., 
Ruling  Elder  Judge  H.  H,  Denhardt  offered  the  following  resolution, 
which  was  adopted: 

"Whereas,  the  need  of  an  up-to-date  Digest  of  General  Assembly 
deliverances  on  various  phases  of  Church  laws  and  government  is 
great,  and  such  a  Digest  is  essential  to  a  proper  understanding  and 
efficient  administration  of  our  Church  government;  therefore  be  it 

Resolved:  1.  That  this  General  Assembly  appoint  a  Commission  of 
three  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  arrange  for  the  compilation  and  publi- 
cation of  such  a  Digest. 

2.  That  the  deliverances  of  the  General  Assembly  as  contained  in 
Stephen's  Digest  shall  be  revised  and  included  in  the  new  Digest,  un- 
less precluded  by  copyright."     (1916,  pp.  114,  115.) 

In  adopting  the  above  resolution,  the  Assembly  appointed  the  Com- 
mission as  called  for,  and  enters  in  its  Journal  of  Fl'oceedings  the 
following  account  of  its  action  thereon: 

"Commission  Appointed. — A  Commission,  consisting  of  Rev.  A.  C. 
Diddle,  Rev.  Hugh  S.  McCord,  and  Judge  H.  H.  Denhardt,  was  ap- 
pointed to  arrange  for  the  compilation  and  publication  of  a  Digest  of 
deliverances  upon  Cumberland  Presbyterian  laws  and  government, 
which  Digest  shall  include  a  revision  of  Stephens'  Digest."  (1916, 
p.  32.) 

This  commission,  or  committee,  made  report  to  the  next  meeting 
of  the  General  Assembly,  which  was  held  at  Lincoln,  111.,  and  its  re- 
port having  been  read,  was  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Publica- 
tion. The  full  text  of  the  report  of  this  Digest  Commission  is  found 
in  the  Minutes  of  1917,  p.  113,  and  the  action  taken  upon  that  report 
is  as  follows: 

"Report  of  the  Committee  on  Digest. — We  recommend  that  Rev.  A. 
C.  Diddle,  of  Clarksville,  Tenn.,  be  appointed  to  prepare  the  Digest 
in  accordance  with  the  printed  report  of  the  committee." — Report  on 
Publication,  1917,  p.  133. 

In  the  above-cited  acts  of  the  General  Assembly,  the  compiler  of  its 
new  Digest  has  had  his  work  clearly  outlined;  and,  notwithstanding 
the  enormity  of  the  task  set  before  me,  I  have  cheerfully  and  faith- 


vi.  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

fully  sought  to  obey.  I  have  adopted  the  general  order  and  plan  of 
the  Stephens'  Digest,  both  because  of  its  logical  simplicity,  but 
more  especially  because  the  workers  in  the  various  Church  courts  are 
more  familiar  with  that  order.  Those  materials,  therefore,  which  are 
deemed  essential  to  the  purposes  of  this  new  Assembly  Digest  will 
be  found  under  one  or  another  of  these  divisions:  I.  The  Historical 
Statement;  II.  The  Church;  III.  The  Church  Officers;  IV.  The  Church 
Courts;  V.  The  Judiciary;  VI.  The  Agencies  of  the  General  Assembly. 
Much  of  the  matter  in  Stephens'  Digest  has  either  been  found  ob- 
solete or  non-applicable  to  our  Church  to-day,  and  I  have  carefully 
blue-penciled  eveiy  page  of  it.  And  so  it  comes  about  that  a  volume 
of  more  than  six  hundred  pages  is  reduced  to  one  of  four  hundred 
pages,  notwithstanding  the  introduction  of  a  vast  amount  of  new 
matter.  Appended  to  the  body  of  the  work  is  a  very  complete 
alphabetical  index  which  will  enable  the  worker  to  reach  any  special 
deliverance  at  a  glance;  while  "Briefs  of  Points  of  Order"  will  be  a 
great  benefit  in  every  Church  judiciary.  In  closing  these  explanations 
and  closing  my  work  upon  the  New  Cumberland  Digest,  I  am  sincerely 
praying  that  it  may  do  much  good  and  so  meet  the  purpose  for  which 
the  Assembly  called  it  into  being. 

Very  sincerely  your  brother, 

Arthur  Colyar  Diddle. 


CONTENTS 

I.  Historical  Statement 1 

1.  The  (General)  Cumberland  Presbytery 1 

2.  The   (General)   Cumberland  Synod 27 

3.  The  General  Assembly  Organized 28 

11.  The  Church 50 

1.  The  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church 50 

2.  A  Particular  Church 58 

3.  Church  Members 69 

III.  The  Church  Officers 79 

1.  The  Minister 80 

2.  The  Ruling  Elder 93 

3.  The  Deacon 99 

IV.  The  Church  Courts 101 

1.  The  Church  Session 106 

2.  The  Presbytery 112 

3.  The  Synod 140 

4.  The  General  Assembly 153 

V.  The  Judiciary 193 

1.  The  Law  Stated 193 

2.  The  Law  Applied 198 

VI.  The  Agencies  of  the  Assembly 205 

1.  The  Assembly's  Board  of  Trustees 205 

2.  The  Board  of  Publication 210 

3.  The  Board  of  Publication,  Sunday  Schools,  and  Young 

People's  Work 215 

4.  The  Board  of  Missions  and  Church  Erection 216 

5.  The  Woman's  Board  of  Missions 219 

6.  Trustees  of  Theological   Seminary 222 

7.  The  Board  of  Ministerial  Relief 224 

8.  The  Board  of  Education 226 

9.  Bethel   College   227 

10.  Assembly  Endowment 228 

11.  The  Board  of  Tithing 230 

12.  Other  Boards  of  the  Assembly 230 

13.  Permanent  Committees  230 

14.  Rules  of  Order  for  Church  Courts 231 


I.  THE  HISTORICAL  STATEMENT. 

"The  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  in 
Dickson  County,  Tennessee,  February  4,  A.  D.,  1810.  It  was 
an  outgrowth  of  the  Great  Revival  of  1800,  one  of  the  most 
powerful  revivals  that  this  country  has  ever  witnessed. 
The  founders  of  the  Church  were  Finis  Ewing,  Samuel  King, 
and  Samuel  M'Adow.  They  were  ministers  in  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  who  rejected  the  doctrine  of  election  and 
reprobation  as  taught  in  the  Westminster  Confession  of 
Faith.  The  causes  which  led  to  the  formation  of  the  Church 
are  clearly  and  distinctly  set  forth  in  publications  issued 
at  the  time,  and  in  various  tracts  and  books  published  sub- 
sequently. To  these  the  reader  is  referred  for  full  infor- 
mation on  the  subject." — From  Preface  to  the  Confession  of 
Faith,  1883. 

1.     THE  CUMBERLAND  PRESBYTERY. 

The  first  Presbytery,  known  as  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
tery, was  organized  by  Rev.  Samuel  M'Adow,  Rev.  Finis 
Evv^ing,  and  Rev.  Samuel  King.  It  was  not  their  purpose  to 
originate  a  new  Church,  but  to  form  an  independent  Pres- 
bytery, hoping  that  the  time  would  speedily  come  when  this 
Presbytery  would  be  recogniz-ad  by  the  Mother  Church. 

The  formation  of  Cumberland  Presbytery  took  place  on 
February  the  4th,  1810,  at  which  time  those  participating 
in  the  organization  entered  into  the  following  compact : 

"In  Dickson  County,  State  of  Tennessee,  at  the  Rev. 
Samuel  McAdow's,  this  4th  day  of  February,  1810. 

"We,  Samuel  M'Adow,  Finis  Ewing,  and  Samuel  King, 
regularly  ordained  ministers  in  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
against  whom  no  charge,  either  of  immorality  or  heresy, 
has  ever  been  exhibited  before  any  of  the  Church  judica- 
tures, having  waited  in  vain  for  more  than  four  years,  in  the 
meantime  petitioning  the  General  Assembly  for  a  redress  of 


2  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

grievances,  and  a  restoration  of  our  violated  rights,  have 
agreed,  and  do  hereby  agree  and  determine,  to  constitute  in- 
to a  Presbytery,  known  by  the  name  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbytery,  on  the  following  conditions : 

"All  candidates  for  the  ministry  who  may  hereafter  be 
licensed  by  this  Presbytery,  and  all  the  licentiates  or  pro- 
bationers, who  may  hereafter  be  ordained  by  this  Presby- 
tery, shall  be  required,  before  such  licensure  and  ordination, 
to  receive  and  adopt  the  Confession  and  Discipline  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  except  the  idea  of  fatality,  which 
seems  to  be  taught  under  the  mysterious  doctrine  of  pre- 
destination. It  is  to  be  understood,  however,  that  such  as 
can  clearly  receive  the  Confession  without  an  exception 
shall  not  be  required  to  make  any.  Moreover,  all  licentiates, 
before  they  are  set  apart  to  the  whole  work  of  the  ministry, 
or  ordained,  shall  be  required  to  undergo  an  examination  on 
English  Grammar,  Geography,  Astronomy,  Natural  and 
Moral  Philosophy,  and  Church  History.  It  will  not  be  un- 
derstood that  examinations  on  experimental  religion  and 
theology  will  be  omitted.  The  Presbytery  may  also  require 
an  examination  on  all,  or  any  part,  of  the  above  branches 
of  literature,  before  licensure,  if  they  deem  it  expedient." 
— From  the  Circular  Letter,  pp.  11,  12. 

At  the  first  regular  meeting  of  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
tery, held  in  March,  1810,  it  was  "ordered,  that  Messrs. 
Samuel  McAdow,  Finis  Ewing,  Ephraim  McLean,  J.  B. 
Porter,  and  Young  Ewing,  or  a  majority  of  them,  draw  a 
Circular  Letter,  as  soon  as  they  can,  which  is  to  be  carefully 
examined,  and  superintend  the  printing  of  a  thousand  cop- 
ies to  be  distributed  under  the  direction  of  Presbytery." — 
From  Minutes  of  Cumberland  Presbytery,  March  1810. 

These  men  complied  with  the  instructions  of  the  Presby- 
tery, as  the  following  "Circular  Letter"  shows: 

A  Circular  Letter. 

(Addressed  to  the  Societies  and  Brethren  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  recently  under  the  care  of  the  Council  by 
the  late  Cumberland  Presbytery ;  in  which  there  is  a  correct 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  3 

statement  of  the  origin,  progress,  and  termination  of  the 
difference  between  the  Synod  of  Kentucky  and  the  former 
Presbytery  of  Cumberland.) 

Dear  Brethren: — The  time  is  at  last  come  when  we  must 
either  sacrifice  our  religious  liberties  and  conscience  to  what 
we  judge  unreasonable  demands,  cease  our  endeavors  to 
promote  the  work  of  God  among  you  as  we  have  hitherto 
done,  or  constitute  a  Presbytery  separate  from  the  Synod 
of  Kentucky.  We  choose  the  latter  as  the  only  way  in 
which  we  can  have  the  answer  of  a  good  conscience.  We 
therefore  deem  it  expedient  to  give  you  a  retrospective 
view  of  the  cause,  together  with  the  progressive  means,  by 
which  matters  have  been  brought  to  this  issue. 

A  number  of  you  will  easily  recollect,  that  about  the  close 
of  the  last  century,  or  beginning  of  the  present,  God,  in  a 
very  remarkable  manner,  began  to  revive  his  work  amongst 
the  inhabitants  of  this  western  country,  the  first  manifes- 
tations of  which  appeared  under  the  ministerial  labors  of 
the  Rev.  James  M'Gready,  in  Logan  County.  At  the  first 
commencement  of  this  glorious  revival,  as  also  in  its  pro- 
gress, the  bodily  affections  and  exercises  of  a  number  of 
those  who  were  its  subjects,  were  very  uncommon.  This 
soon  caused  a  rumor  to  go  abroad,  and  the  people  from  ev- 
ery quarter  came  out  to  see.  The  consequence  of  which  was, 
that  they  not  only  had  their  curiosity  satisfied,  but  a  great 
number  had  their  hearts  deeply  affected.  This,  in  the  hand 
of  God,  was  a  blessed  means  of  spreading  the  work  through 
various  parts  of  our  country.  For  a  while,  at  first,  all  the 
ministers  in  our  bounds  seemed  to  participate  in  the  glo- 
rious effusion  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  correspondent  to  this 
proclaimed  themselves  friends  to  the  revival.  But  alas!  it 
was  soon  after  discoverable,  that  some  of  them  had  changed 
their  opinion,  otherwise  they  had  never  been  well-estab- 
lished. The  consequence  of  this  apparent  change  may  eas- 
ily be  inferred,  notwithstanding  the  work  still  progressed. 
And  although  the  few  who  remained  friends  to  the  revival 
labored  in  the  work  of  the  ministry  night  and  day,  yet  the 
cries  of  the  people  for  more  preaching  were  incessant,  and 
those  cries  soon  became  so  general,  that  they  were  heard 


4  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

from  many  parts  of  an  extensive  frontier.  The  ministers, 
in  return,  could  only  pity,  and  pray  for  them ;  the  congre- 
gations being  so  numerous,  and  in  such  a  scattered  situa- 
tion, that  they  could  not  by  any  possible  endeavor  supply 
them. 

About  this  time,  a  venerable  father  in  the  ministry.  Rev. 
David  Rice,  who  was  then  a  resident  in  one  of  the  upper 
counties  of  Kentucky,  came  down  and  attended  a  commun- 
ion with  some  of  our  preachers  in  a  vacant  congregation; 
and  he,  having  learned  the  situation  of  our  country,  and 
the  pressing  demand  that  there  was  for  more  preaching, 
proposed  the  plan  of  encouraging  such  amongst  us  as  ap- 
peared to  be  men  of  good  talents,  and  who  also  discovered 
a  disposition  to  exercise  their  gifts  in  a  public  way,  to 
preach  the  Gospel,  although  they  might  not  have  acquired 
that  degree  of  human  education  which  the  letter  of  dis- 
cipline requires.  This  proposition  was  truly  pleasing  to 
our  preachers,  and  indeed  it  found  general  acceptance 
amon^,^  the  people,  as  soon  as  intimations  thereof  were  given. 
The  consequence  was,  that  an  uncommon  spirit  of  prayer 
now  seemed  to  prevail  throughout  the  societies  that  the 
Great  Head  of  the  Church  would,  not  only  open  an  effectual 
door  into  the  ministry,  but  also  that  he  would  raise  up.  qual- 
ify, and  bring  men  into  that  sacred  office,  whose  labors  he 
would  own  and  bless.  And,  brethren,  that  God  who  never 
told  Israel  to  seek  him  in  vain,  evidently  heard  and  an- 
swered the  prayers  of  his  people.  Some  whose  minds  had 
been  previously  impressed  with  the  duty  of  calling  sinners 
to  repentance,  and  of  bearing  public  testimony  to  the  work 
of  GoJ  and  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  upon  whom  also 
the  eyes  of  the  Church  for  some  time  had  been  fixed  with 
a  degree  of  expectation,  now  made  their  exercise  of  mind 
on  this  subject  known  to  their  fathers  in  the  ministry.  The 
prospect  was  truly  pleasing  to  the  preachers,  yet  they  con- 
sidered it  expedient  to  act  with  the  greatest  caution;  for 
although  the  step  about  to  be  taken  was  not  unprecedented 
in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  yet,  seeing  it  was  out  of  the 
common  track,  they  were  well  aware  that  some  of  their 
brethren  in  the  ministry  would  oppose  the  measure.    How- 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  5 

ever  they  ventured  to  encourage  three  or  four  of  the  young 
men  to  prepare  written  discourses  and  present  them  to  the 
Transylvania  Presbytery  as  a  specimen  of  their  abilities. 
They  accordingly    prepared    discourses,    and    at    the  next 
stated  session  of  said  Presbytery  their  case  was  brought 
before  that  reverend  body.     They  met  with  warm  opposi- 
tion, arising  principally,  however,  from  a  quarter  rather 
inimical  to  the  revival.     But  after  a  lengthy  conversation 
on  the  subject,  in  which  there  was  much  altercation,  a  ma- 
jority of  the  members  consented,  and  agreed  that  the  young 
men  might  be  permitted  to  read  their  discourses  to  an  aged 
member  alone,  who  should  make  report  to  the  judicature. 
We  believe  the  report  was  favorable.    It  was  then  directed, 
as  well  as  we  can  recollect,  that  those  men  should  prepare 
other  discourses,  to  be  read  at  the  next  Presbytery.    They 
accordingly  prepared,  and  three  of  them  attended;  but  as 
soon  as  the  subject  of  their  case  was  resumed,  a  warm  de- 
bate ensued.    At  length,  however,  a  majority  of  the  mem- 
bers agreed  to  hear  their  discourses.    After  they  were  read, 
the  question  was  put:  "Shall  these  men  be  received  as  can- 
didates for  the  ministry?"     The  vote  being  taken,  one  of 
the  three  was  received,  and  two  were  rejected  by  a  majority 
of  one  vote  only.     This  circumstance  much  depressed  the 
spirits  of  a  number  of  the  preachers,  who  were  real  friends 
to  the  revival,  and  likewise  the  congregations  generally  that 
had  so  earnestly  desired  their  licensure;  but  more  especial- 
ly the  spirits  of  those  two  candidates  were  depressed.    They 
were  men  in  a  matrimonial  state,  and  could  not  consistently 
with  those  relative  duties,  by  which  they  were  bound  to 
their  families,  go  and  acquire  the  knowledge  of  all  those 
forms  of  literature  required  in  the  Book  of  Discipline.    Fain 
would  they  have  returned  home  and  solaced  themselves  in 
the  enjoyment  of  their  domestic  comforts,  as  private  Chris- 
tians, if  they  could  have  done  so  and  kept  a  good  conscience ; 
but  this  they  could  not  do ;  nor  could  they  with  clearness  of 
conscience  become  members  of  any  other  Christian  Society 
where  the  ministerial  door  was  not  so  straight  and  difficult, 
and  consequently,  where  they  might  have  been  at  liberty  to 
exercise  their  popular  talents  with  approbation.    No:  they 


6  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

were  attached  to  all  the  essential  doctrines,  and  likewise 
the  discipline,  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  It  was  in  this 
Church  they  first  felt  the  power  of  the  Gospel  upon  their 
hearts,  and  tasted  the  sweetness  of  that  grace  which  brings 
salvation  to  man.  Therefore,  in  the  communion  of  this 
Church  they  earnestly  desired  to  live  and  die. 

By  this  time  a  number  of  others  who  were  generally  es- 
teemed eminent  for  gifts  and  piety,  together  with  those 
who  had  already  offered  as  candidates,  became  solemnly  im- 
pressed to  proclaim  the  word  of  life  and  salvation  to  sin- 
ners. But  alas!  the  door  of  admittance  seemed  to  be  shut 
against  them. 

In  this  dark  state  of  matters,  both  ministers  themselves, 
and  likewise  the  candidates  who  had  already  offered,  and 
others  who  were  looking  forward  toward  the  ministry,  to- 
gether with  all  the  societies  in  our  bounds,  began  now,  in 
good  earnest,  to  realize  the  necessity  of  crying  mightily  to 
that  God  who  has  Church  judicatures  in  his  hands,  as  well 
as  the  hearts  of  individuals.  In  the  meantime,  candidates 
and  other  eminent  characters,  who  were  assiduously  en- 
deavoring in  one  way  or  another  to  promote  the  work  of 
God,  were  encouraged  by  their  fathers  in  the  ministry  to 
continue  the  exercise  of  their  gifts  in  a  way  of  public  exhor- 
tation, which  several  of  them  did,  laboring  much  till  the 
next  Presbytery;  at  which  time  several  petitions  were  pre- 
sented, with  hundreds  of  signatures,  praying  the  Presby- 
tery to  license  and  send  to  their  relief  certain  denominated 
persons.  The  subject  was  again  taken  into  consideration, 
after  which  the  Presbytery,  who  were  personally  acquainted 
with  those  men  embraced  in  the  petitions,  knowing  their 
piety,  soundness  in  the  faith,  aptness  to  teach,  etc.,  and  tak- 
ing into  view  the  situation  of  the  congregations,  and  the 
extraordinary  demand  for  preaching,  determined  to  hear 
trial  sermons  from  three  or  four  of  them  (at  the  present 
session),  to  be  considered  as  popular  discourses;  which  ac- 
cordingly were  delivered,  and  sustained  by  a  large  majori- 
ty of  the  judicature.  And  after  an  examination  on  various 
subjects,  touching  the  ministry,  which  was  also  sustained, 
they  were  "licensed  to  preach  the  Gospel  within  the  bounds 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  7 

of  the  Transylvania  Presbytery,  or  wherever  else,  God  in 
his  providence,  might  call  them." 

Certain  members  who  had  always  been  opposed  to  the 
measure,  entered  their  protest  against  the  proceedings  of 
the  majority.  But  the  majority  were  not  deterred  thereby 
from  pursuing,  in  their  official  capacity,  that  method  which 
they  conscientiously  believed  best  calculated  to  promote  the 
Redeemer's  kingdom  in  the  world. 

The  Synod,  not  long  after  this,  divided  the  Transylvania 
Presbytery,  and  formed  what  was  called  the  Cumberland 
Presbytery,  the  bounds  of  which  included  all  the  members 
that  attended  the  preceding  session  of  the  Transylvania 
Presbytery.  This  act  gave  a  decided  majority,  in  the  new 
Presbytery,  to  the  promoters  of  the  revival  and  those  who 
were  friendly  to  the  licensure  of  the  aforementioned  young 
men,  which  majority  ever  after  continued  and  increased 
until  the  Presbytery  was  dissolved. 

The  licensing  of  these  men,  on  the  petition  of  the  con- 
gregations, seemed  to  be  a  means,  in  God's  hand,  of  increas- 
ing, instead  of  decreasing,  the  demand  for  supplies.  They 
(the  preachers)  laboring  both  night  and  day,  leaving  their 
families  for  a  considerable  length  of  time,  preaching  the 
Word,  planting  new  societies,  and  watering  those  that  were 
planted,  would  necessarily  increase  such  demand,  if  at- 
tended with  the  divine  influence.  And,  brethren,  we  need 
only  appeal  to  many  of  you  to  witness  the  success  that  evi- 
dently attended  those  men's  labors.  The  feeling  and  ex- 
perience of  your  own  hearts  are  better  evidences  to  you  on 
that  subject,  than  all  the  reasons  that  could  be  advanced. 
Though  you  may  have  ten  thousand  instructors,  yet  you 
have  not  many  fathers  in  Christ. 

The  Presbytery  in  pursuing  what  they  believed  to  be  their 
duty,  continued  from  time  to  time  to  license  and  ordain 
such  men,  both  learned  and  unlearned  (what  is  meant  by 
unlearned  here,  is  not  a  want  of  common  English  educa- 
tion), as  they  thought  would  be  useful  laborers  in  the  vine- 
yard of  the  Lord.  And,  if  the  old  maxim  be  a  good  one, 
"judge  of  causes  by  their  effects,"  the  Presbytery  will  nev- 
er have  just  cause  to  regret  that  they  engaged  in,  and  pur- 


8  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

sued,  such  measures:  for  it  is  an  incontestable  fact  (judg- 
ing- by  our  Lord's  rule,  By  their  fruits  ye  shall  know 
them),  that  there  are  multitudes  of  both  men  and  women 
who  will  have  cause  to  rejoice  eternally  that  they  ever 
heard  those  men  preach  a  crucified  Christ. 

The  members  who  entered  their  protest  sent  a  petition 
to  the  next  session  of  Synod,  referring  them  to  the  protest, 
"which  they  thought  should  have  operated  as  an  appeal," 
in  which  they  complained  of  various  irregularities  in  the 
Cumberland  Presbytery  with  respect  to  the  licensure  and 
■ordination  of  men  to  the  ministry.  The  Synod  at  that  time 
did  or  said  but  little  about  the  matter;  but  at  their  succeed- 
ing session  they  appointed  a  commission  of  Synod  to  meet 
shortly  afterwards  in  the  bounds  of  the  Cumberland  Pres- 
bytery, at  Gasper  River,  and  directed  certain  members  of 
the  Commission  to  cite,  previously  to  that  meeting,  all  our 
preachers,  licentiates,  candidates,  and  public  exhorters,* 
who  generally  met  in  obedience  to  the  citation. 

We  would  observe  here,  brethren,  that  although  the  ap- 
pointment of  the  Commission  was  (we  hope)  well  intended, 
yet  we  believe  it  was  unhappily  selected  as  to  a  part  of  it, 
from  what  appeared  in  the  prosecution  of  their  mission.  A 
number  of  that  body,  however,  both  preachers  and  elders, 
were  meek  and  friendly  disposed  men,  who  felt,  as  brethren, 
disposed  to  pursue  the  most  pacific  measures  (according 
to  their  order  from  the  stated  Synod)  to  heal  the  breach 
that  threatened  the  Church.  But,  on  the  contrary,  it  is 
notorious,  that  another  part  of  that  body  were  men  of  differ- 
ent tempers;  and  it  was  an  unfortunate  circumstance  that 
those  men  were  the  most  forward,  influential  members. 

After  the  Commission  had  met,  and  also  the  accused 
(who  were  then  known  as  the  majority  of  the  Cumberland 


*There  was  much  noise  about  so  many  exhorters  having  been  au- 
thoi-ized  by  the  Presbytery.  The  members  thought,  with  the  Apostle, 
that  it  was  the  duty  and  privilege  of  all  Christians  to  exhort  in  some 
manner;  and  the  design  they  had  in  licensing  such  as  made  applica- 
tion was  to  give  them  more  weight  among  the  people,  without  the  most 
distant  prospect  of  licensing  them  to  preach,  except  those  whose 
talents  would  have  justified  such  an  act. 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  9 

Presbytery),  the  Commission  selected,  from  the  minutes 
and  other  sources,  a  number  of  irregularities,  as  chargeable 
against  the  majority  of  the  Presbytery,  all  of  which,  how- 
ever, were  comprised  in  the  two  following  particulars,  to 
wit:  1st.  The  licensing  of  unlearned  men,  or  such  as  had 
not  been  examined  on  the  learned  languages,  etc. ;  2nd.  That 
those  men  who  were  licensed,  both  learned  and  unlearned, 
were  required  to  adopt  the  Confession  of  Faith  only  par- 
tially, that  is,  as  far  as  they  believed  it  to  agree  with  the 
Word  of  God. 

As  to  the  first  ground  of  complaint,  the  Presbytery  not 
only  pleaded  the  exception  made  in  the  discipline  in  extra- 
ordinary cases,  but  also  the  example  of  a  number  of  the 
Presbyteries  in  different  parts  of  the  United  States.*  They, 
moreover,  appealed  to  a  higher  authority  than  either  of 
the  foregoing,  which  was  the  New  Testament,  and  inquired 
if  there  was  any  precept  or  example,  in  that,  which  con- 
demned the  practice  of  licensing  what  they  (the  Commis- 


'•'•Among  the  many  instances  of  this  kind  that  might  be  mentioned 
are  the  following — to  wit:  Mr.  Beck,  who  was  received  by  the  iTesoy- 
tery  in  North  Carolina;  Mr.  Bloodworth,  by  Orange;  Mr.  Moore,  by 
Hanover;  Mr.  Marquis,  by  Redstone;  and  Mr.  Kemper  and  Mr.  Abell, 
by  the  Ti-ansylvania  Presbytery.  Likewise  in  Pennsylvania,  many 
years  ago,  a  poor  illiterate  man,  a  native  of  Wales,  conceiving  that  he 
had  an  internal  call  to  preach  the  gospel,  made  his  case  known  to  the 
Presbytery.  But,  because  he  was  not  sufficiently  acquainted  with  the 
English  language  to  undergo  all  parts  of  examination  in  it,  or  in  any 
other  but  his  mother  tongue,  the  Presbytery,  therefore,  sent  for  Mr. 
Davis,  who  was  also  a  native  of  Wales,  to  conduct  the  necessary  ex- 
amination previous  to  licensure. 

In  short,  the  majority  of  the  Cumberland  Presbytery  were  of  opinion 
that  the  compilers  of  the  Confession  of  Faith  and  Discipline  of  our 
Church  never  intended  that  the  rules  there  laid  down  for  examination 
and  trial  of  candidates  for  the  ministry  should  be  considered  an  in- 
fallible standard  by  which  the  Holy  Ghost  must  be  limited  when  he 
calls  men  to  that  sacred  office.  They  had  no  doubt  that  this  reverend 
body,  at  the  same  time  they  laid  down  those  pi-udential  rules,  believed 
that  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church  could,  and  actually  did,  when  he 
thought  proper,  bring  men  into  the  ministiy  without  the  aid  of  those 
literary  qualifications.  And  if  granted  that  he  might  in  one  instance, 
why  not  in  more;  yea,  why  not  in  many?  Who  will  limit  the  Holy 
One  of  Israel? 


10  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

sion)  called  unlearned  men  to  preach  the  Gospel?  It  was 
likewise  asked  if  God  could  not  as  easily  call  a  Presbyterian 
to  preach,  who  had  not  a  liberal  education,  as  he  could  a 
Methodist  or  Baptist?  a  number  of  whom  are  acknowledged 
to  be  respectable  and  useful  ministers  of  Jesus  Christ. 

As  to  the  second  point,  the  Synod  had  suggested  that  the 
candidates  could  have  adopted  the  "Alcoran"  in  the  same 
manner  they  adopted  the  Confession  of  Faith.  This  was 
acknowledged  to  be  literally  true,  but  not  applicable  in  the 
case  of  the  young  men;  for  the  Presbytery  contended  that 
the  very  act  of  the  candidates'  receiving  the  Confession  at 
all,  was  an  evidence  that  they  esteemed  it  above  all  other 
human  creeds;  and  the  exception,  or  condition,  in  which 
they  were  indulged,  was  only  designed  to  meet  some  con- 
scientious scruples,  in  points  not  fundamental  or  essential, 
particularly  the  idea  of  fatality,  that  seemed  to  some  of 
them  to  be  there  taught,  under  the  high  and  mysterious 
doctrine  of  predestination. 

The  reasons  offered  by  the  Presbytery,  on  those  points, 
did  not  appear  satisfactory  to  the  Commission  of  Synod; 
therefore,  much  altercation  took  place,  during  which  time, 
no  doubt,  Christ  was  wounded  in  the  house  of  his  friends, 
by  some  (perhaps)  of  both  judicatures.  It  is  well  recol- 
lected, at  any  rate,  that  the  Presbytery,  during  the  debate, 
were  often  reminded  by  certain  members  of  the  Commis- 
sion that  they  stood  at  their  (the  Commission's)  bar!  In- 
deed, brethren,  it  appeared  to  us  very  notorious,  that  some 
of  the  leading  members  of  that  body  assumed  attitudes  and 
an  authority  which  but  illy  comported  with  the  character 
of  ministers  of  the  meek  and  lowly  Jesus,  sent  on  a  pacific 
mission. 

After  much  reasoning,  as  well  as  positive  assertion  on 
the  subject,  the  Commission  demanded  of  the  Presbytery, 
to  give  up  to  them  all  those  men  whom  they  had  licensed 
and  ordained  for  re-examination.  The  Presbytery  refused, 
suggesting  the  danger  of  the  example,  and  also  that  such 
a  dem.and  was  without  precedent.  They,  moreover,  declared 
that  they  believed  the  discipline  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
had  deposited  the  sole  power  in  the  several  Presbyteries  to 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  11 

judge  of  the  faith  and  qualifications  of  their  own  candidates 
for  the  ministry.* 

After  the  refusal  of  the  Presbytery,  the  Moderator  of  the 
Commission  proceeded  to  adjure  the  young  men  to  submit 
to  their  authority  and  be  re-examined,  when  one  of  them 
asked  liberty  for  himself  and  brethren  to  retire  and  ask 
counsel  of  God,  before  they  would  give  an  answer.  This 
reasonable  request  was,  at  first,  strongly  opposed  by  one 
or  two  leading  members  of  the  Commission !  But  at  length 
it  was  granted,  and  the  young  men  retired  to  ask  counsel  of 
Him  who  is  all-wise.  In  a  short  time  after  they  returned, 
when  they  were  asked  individually  if  they  would  submit, 
they  all  (except  one  or  two,  who  wanted  longer  time  to  de- 
liberate) answered  in  the  negative,  for  the  following  rea- 
sons, to  wit:  First,  they  believed  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
tery, which  was  a  regular  Church  judicature,  to  be  compe- 
tent judges  of  the  faith  and  abilities  of  their  own  candi- 
dates. Secondly,  that  they  themselves  had  not  been  charged 
with  heresy  and  immorality;  and  if  they  had,  the  Presby- 
tery would  have  been  the  proper  judicature  first  to  have 
called  them  to  account.  Notwithstanding,  the  Commission 
of  Synod  proceeded  formally  to  prohibit  all  the  men,  learned 
and  unlearned,  whom  the  Cumberland  Presbytery  had  li- 
censed and  ordained,  from  preaching  the  Gospel  in  the  name 
of  Presbyterians!  and  also  cited  what  were  called  the  old 
members  to  attend  the  next  stated  session  of  Synod,  to  be 
examined  on  faith  and  to  answer  for  not  having  given  up 
their  young  brethren  to  be  re-examined. 

Here,  brethren,  we  v/ould  ask  (knowing  that  a  number 
of  yoa  have  been  thirty  or  forty  years  regular  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church)  if  ever  you  knew  an  instance, 
either  in  Europe  or  America,  of  a  Synod's  undertaking  to 
prohibit  preachers  [from  exercising  their  ministerial  func- 


*0n  the  principles  of  the  Commission's  demand,  no  Presbytery 
would  know  when  there  was  an  addition  made  to  their  body  by  ordina- 
tion, inasmuch  as  the  next  Synod  might  demand  a  re-examination  of 
the  newly  ordained  minister,  judge  him  unqualified,  and  declare  he 
should  no  longer  preach  as  a  Presbyterian. 


12  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

lions]  who  had  not  been  accused  by  their  own  or  any  other 
Presbytery?  We  would  also  ask  if  ever  you  knew  an  in- 
stance of  any  reformed  Church  judicature's  silencing  a  min- 
ister or  ministers  who  had  not  been  charged  with  heresy, 
immorality,  or  even  what  our  discipline  calls  contumacy? 
This  was  certainly  the  case  with  the  young  men.  That  is, 
they  were  not  charg^id  with  either  of  the  above,  yet  they 
were  prohibited,  and  the  Presbytery  censured  because  they 
would  not  acknowledge  the  authority  by  which  it  was  done. 

The  members  of  Presbytery  then  retired  to  consult  as  to 
what  was  best  to  be  done  (but  not  in  a  Presbyterial  capaci- 
ty), and  after  deliberation  they  agreed  to  encourage  the 
young  men  to  continue  the  exercise  of  their  respective  func- 
tions, which  they  themselves  determined  to  do,  except  in 
such  business  as  required  the  act  of  a  Presbytery. 

Some  months  after,  there  was  a  general  meeting,  or  Coun- 
cil, held  at  Shilo,  consisting  of  the  ministers,  elders,  and 
representatives  from  vacancies,  which  formerly  composed 
a  majority  of  Cumberland  Presbytery.  At  that  Council  it 
was  agreed  on,  to  petition  the  General  Assembly ;  and  in  the 
meantime  cease  our  operations  as  a  Presbytery;  but  con- 
tinue to  meet  from  time  to  time  in  the  capacity  of  a  Council, 
and  promote  the  interests  of  the  Church  as  well  as  we  could, 
until  an  answer  could  be  obtained  from  the  Assembly.  The 
Council,  at  this  meeting,  unanimously  declared  it  to  be  their 
opinion  that  the  commission  of  Synod  had  acted  contraiy 
to  Discipline,  which  opinion  was  corroborated  by  the  next 
Assembly  (though  not  officially),  according  to  a  private  let- 
ter from  a  respectable  member  of  that  body,  a  part  of  which 
is  as  follows: 

"The  unhappy  differences  in  your  quarter,  so  immediate- 
ly succeeding  what  a  great  proportion  of  the  Presbyterian 
interest  in  this  place  believed  to  be  a  great  revival  of  the 
work  of  God,  has  excited  deep  concern,  and  our  General  As- 
sembly has  had  the  matter  fully  before  them.  It  appeared 
to  be  the  decided  opinion  of  the  majority  in  the  General  As- 
sembly, that  no  Synod  has  a  right  to  proceed  against  min- 
isters or  individuals,  except  the  matter  shall  have  come  be- 
fore ihem  by  appeal  from  the  Presbytery.     That  only  a 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  13 

Presbytery  could  call  its  members  to  account  for  errors  in 
doctrine  or  practice.  That  a  man  once  ordained  by  a  Pres- 
bytery is  an  ordained  minister  though  the  Presbytery  may 
have  acted  improperly  in  not  requiring  the  due  qualifica- 
tion; and  that  even  a  Presbytery  could  not  afterwards  de- 
pose but  for  cause  arising  or  made  public  after  the  ordina- 
tion. That  licentiates  are  always  in  the  power  of  their 
Presbytery  to  examine  them  and  withdraw  their  licensure 
at  discretion.  But  that  a  Synod  may  act  against  a  Pres- 
bytery as  such  by  dissolving,  dividing,  censuring-,  etc.,  con- 
sequently that  the  dealings  with  Cumberland  Presbytery 
were  legal  in  dissolving  them  and  annexing  them  to  Tran- 
sylvania, but  wholly  improper  in  suspending  ordained  min- 
isters, and  still  more  im.proper  was  it  for  a  Commission  of 
Syncd  to  do  it.  But  though  the  rule  about  the  knowledge 
of  languages,  in  our  Discipline,  is  not  often  fully  complied 
with,  and  though  the  rule  is  not  found  in  the  Scriptures,  yet 
it  is  so  important  that,  though  your  case  was  an  imperious 
one,  they  seemed  to  fear  you  had  gone  too  far,  especially  in 
the  licensures.  But  what  the  General  Assembly  hath  finally 
done  will  appear  very  inconclusive  on  these  points ;  because 
they  wished  to  avoid  offending  the  Synod  and  the  Presby- 
tery; and  the  m.inority  in  the  Assembly  took  advantage  of 
this  to  make  the  business  end  as  much  as  possible  in  such  a 
manner  as  not  to  be  construed  against  the  power  of  the 
Synods  and  General  Assemblies.  The  General  Assembly 
have,  however,  questioned  the  regularity  of  the  proceedings 
of  your  Synod." 

You  may  see,  brethren,  in  the  foregoing  extracts,  what 
was  the  decided  opinion  of  what  may  be  called  the  collected 
wisdom  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States,  on 
the  points  for  which  we  contended.  And  perhaps,  in  exam- 
ining the  list  of  commissioners  who  composed  the  Assembly, 
the  members  will  be  found  to  stand  as  high  for  learning,  in- 
tegrity, and  piety  as  a  subsequent  Assembly  who  differed 
with  them  in  opinion.  You  will,  moreover,  see  the  reason 
why  we  were  not  profited  by  the  favourable  opinion  of  the 
Assembly.  As  to  the  Assembly's  fearing  we  had  "gone  too 
far  in  the  licensures,"  we  will  not  pretend  to  say  their  fears 


14  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

were  altogether  without  foundation.  Nevertheless,  the 
Presbytery  that  has  been  without  sin  on  this  subject  "may 
cast  the  first  stone."  That  is,  the  Presbytery  that  has  li- 
censed as  many  as  the  Cumberland  Presbytery  has,  and 
has  licensed  no  improper  person  to  preach  the  Gospel.* 

The  Assembly  addresed  a  letter  to  the  Synod,  informing 
them  that  what  they  had  done  "was  at  least  of  questionable 
regularity,"  and  requested  them  to  review  their  proceedings 
and  rectify  what  might  have  been  done  amiss.  The  Synod, 
we  understood,  reviewed,  but  confirmed,  all  that  their  Com- 
mission had  done.  The  Council,  notwithstanding,  were  en- 
couraged to  forward  another  petition,  after  which  we  were 
informed  by  a  private  letter  from  another  influential  mem- 
ber of  the  Assembly  that  it  would  be  most  proper  for  us  to 
apply  to  the  Synod  to  rescind  their  former  order,  as  it  re- 
spected the  Presbytery;  and  if  they  refused,  then  for  the 
Council  to  appeal  to  the  Assembly,  which  "no  doubt  would 
redress  their  grievances."  The  official  letter  of  that  As- 
sembly not  having  come  to  hand,  the  Council  thought  it 
prudent  to  postpone  doing  anything  in  it  until  such  letter 
could  be  seen.  After  it  was  seen,  a  number  of  the  members 
of  Council  thought  the  prospect  of  a  redress  of  grievances 
not  flattering ;  and  at  the  next  Council  it  was  vated,  by  a  large 
majority,  to  go  into  a  constituted  state,  and  in  that  capacity 
address  the  General  Assembly.  But  by  reason  of  the  minor- 
ity's refusing  to  acquiesce  in  what  the  majority  had  done, 
the  Council  did  not  still  constitute  a  Presbytery.  After 
some  time  some  of  those  who  were  of  the  majority  felt  will- 
ing to  comply  with  the  recommendation  of  the  member  who 
wrote  to  us  and  told  us  to  go  up  by  appeal  from  the  Synod, 
but,  before  there  was  an  opportunity  of  doing  so  (after  such 
conclusion),  we  heard  to  our  astonishment,  that  the  Assem- 
bly had  decided  in  favor  of  the  Synod.  This  step  at  once 
superseded  the  necessity  of  an  appeal;  therefore,  the  Coun- 
cil, generally,  thought  it  was  now  time  to  constitute  into  a 


*The  Cumberland  Presbytery  has  reason  to  thank  God  that  eveiy 
man  whom  they  licensed  (except  one  individual)  continues  to  believe, 
preach,  and  practice  the  gospel  of  Christ. 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  15 

Presbytery,  and  proceed  to  business  again  in  that  capacity. 
But  some  of  the  members  wished  to  make  the  last  effort 
with  the  Synod,  who  now  had  the  business  in  their  own 
hands  and  the  whole  agreed,  at  the  Ridge  Meeting  House,  in 
August  last,  to  propose  their  last  terms  and  forward  them 
to  the  Transylvania  Presbytery,  or  Synod,  by  two  commis- 
sioners, to  be  appointed  for  that  purpose,  which  was  accord- 
ingly done;  and  the  terms  in  substance,  were  as  follows: 

"We,  the  preachers  belonging  to  the  Council,  both  old  and 
young,  from  a  sincere  desire  to  be  in  union  with  the  general 
body  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  are  willing  to  be  examined 
on  the  tenets  of  our  holy  religion,  by  the  Transylvania  Pres- 
bytery, Synod,  or  a  committee  appointed  for  that  purpose; 
taking  along  the  idea,  however,  that  we  be  received  or  re- 
jected as  a  connected  body;  also  that  all  our  ministers,  or- 
dained and  licentiates,  retain  their  former  authority,  de- 
rived from  the  Cumberland  Presbytery.  It  was,  moreover, 
understood  that  if  the  Synod  should  require  the  preachers 
to  re-adopt  the  Confession  of  Faith  it  should  be  with  the  ex- 
ception of  fatality  only."  Our  commissioners  were  directed 
to  go,  and  take  a  copy  of  the  above  minute,  without  any  dis- 
cretionary power  whatsoever  to  alter  the  propositions  in 
any  way.  And  it  was  unanimously  agreed  and  determined 
that,  if  the  Synod  would  not  accede  to  the  propositions,  on 
the  fourth  Tuesday  in  October  ensuing,  they  (the  whole 
Council)  would  go  into  a  constituted  state.  The  commis- 
sioners accordingly  went  to  the  Synod;  and,  after  their  re- 
turn, informed  us  that  the  Synod  would  not  consider  our 
case,  f.s  a  body,  but  as  individuals.  Neither  would  they  suf- 
fer any  of  our  preachers  to  make  the  exception  to  the  Con- 
fession of  Faith.  The  commissioners,  notwithstanding,  ob- 
tained an  order  for  an  intermediate  Presbytery  "to  be  held 
at  Green  Town,  to  consider  the  case  of  Mr.  Hodge  and 
others."  Here,  brethren,  we  will  insert  for  your  informa- 
tion the  minute  of  the  last  Council,  and  also  the  preamble 
to  the  minute  of  our  first  Presbytery. 

"The  Council  met  at  Shilo,  agreeably  to  adjournment,  on 
the  fourth  Tuesday  in  October,  1809.    Whereupon  Mr.  King 


16  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

was  appointed  to  the  chair  and  Thos.  Donald,  Clerk.     The 
Council  opened  by  prayer. 

"Enquiry  was  made  what  progress  the  commissioners  had 
made  at  the  Transylvania  Presbytery  (or  Synod)  towards 
brinKing  about  a  reconciliation,  and  how  those  judicatures 
had  treated  the  propositions  of  the  last  Council.  Mr.  Hodge, 
after  some  preliminary  remarks  (in  which  he  suggested 
that  he  thought  the  commissioners  had  obtained  a  compli- 
ance with  the  substance  of  the  Council's  propositions),  read 
a  copy  of  a  petition  he  had  presented  to  the  Synod  and  the 
Synod's  order  on  that  petition.  After  the  matter  was  dis- 
cussed, and  after  the  minute  of  the  last  Council  on  that  sub- 
ject was  read,  and  compared  with  the  petition,  as  ordered 
above,  the  vote  was  taken,  whether  or  not  the  Synod  had 
complied  with  the  propositions  of  the  Council,  which  was 
decided  in  the  negative  by  a  very  large  majorty.  The  vote 
was  then  taken  whether  or  not  the  Council  would  put  the 
resolution  of  last  Council  into  execution  (which  went  sol- 
emnly to  declare  that  unless  the  Synod  acceded  to  their 
propositions  they  would  on  this  date  constitute  into  a  Pres- 
bytery), which  was  carried  in  the  affirmative  by  a  large  ma- 
jority, after  which  Messrs.  William  and  Samuel  Hodge,  min- 
isters, and  Thomas  Donald,  elder,  withdrew  from  the  Coun- 
cil, virtually  declaring  their  intention  to  join  the  Transyl- 
vania Presbytery.  There  being  then  only  three  ordained 
ministers  present,  it  was  inquired  whether  they  were  now 
ready  to  go  into  a  constituted  state ;  when  it  was  found  that 
one  of  them  was  embarrased  in  his  mind.  The  Council  then 
adjourned  and  met  again,  waiting  the  decision  of  that  mem- 
ber, who  at  length  declared  he  could  not  feel  free  at  the 
present  time  to  constitute.  The  Council  then,  together  with 
all  the  licentiates  and  candidates  present,  foiTned  into  a  com- 
mittee and  entered  upon  a  free  conversation  on  the  subject 
before  them ;  when  it  was  finally  agreed  to,  that  each  or- 
dained minister,  licentiate,  elder,  and  representative  shall 
continue  in  union,  and  use  their  influence  to  keep  the  socie- 
ties in  union,  until  the  third  Tuesday  in  March  next,  and 
then  meet  at  the  Ridge  Meeting  House;  'after  which  eacn 
one  shall  be  at  liberty  from  this  bond,  unless  previously  to 


I>EW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  17 

that  time  three  ordairxed  ministers  belonging  to  this  body 
shall  have  constituted  a  Presbytery;  then  in  that  case,  the 
committee  will  consider  the  bond  of  union  perpetual ;  v/hich 
Presbytery,  after  doing  such  business  as  they  may  think 
proper,  are  to  adjourn,  to  meet  at  the  Ridge  Meeting  House, 
the  said  third  Tuesday  in  March,  in  a  Presbyterial  capacity.' 

Samuel  King,  Chairman." 

THE  COfllPACT  ENTERED  INTO. 

"In  Dickson  County,  State  of  Tennessee,  at  the  Rev.  Samuel  Mc- 
Adow's,  this  the  4th  day  of  February,  1810. 

"We,  Samuel  IMcAdow,  Finis  Ewing,  and  Samuel  King,  regularly 
ordained  ministers  in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  against  whom  no 
charge,  either  of  immorality  or  heresy,  has  ever  been  exhibited  be- 
fore any  of  the  Church  judicatures,  having  waited  in  vain  for  more 
than  four  years,  in  the  meantime  petitioning  the  General  Assembly 
for  a  redress  of  gi-ievances,  and  a  restoration  of  our  violated  rights, 
have  agreed,  and  do  hereby  agree  and  determine  to  constitute  into 
a  Presbytery,  known  by  the  name  of  the  Cumberland  Presbytery,  on 
the  following  conditions: 

"All  candidates  for  the  ministry  who  may  hereafter  be  licensed  by 
this  Presbytery,  and  all  the  licentiates  or  probationers  who  may 
hereafter  be  ordained  by  this  Presbytery,  shall  be  required,  before 
such  licensure  and  ordination,  to  receive  and  adopt  the  Confession 
and  Discipline  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  except  the  idea  of  fatality, 
v/hich  seems  to  be  taught  under  the  mysterious  doctrine  of  predes- 
tination. It  is  to  be  understood,  however,  that  such  as  can  clearly  re- 
ceive the  Confession  without  an  exception  shall  not  be  required  to 
make  any.  Moreover,  all  licentiates,  before  they  are  set  apart  to 
the  who^e  work  of  the  ministrj^,  or  ordained,  shall  be  required  to 
undergo  an  examination  on  English  grammar.  Geography,  Astron- 
omy, Natural  and  Moral  Philosophy,  and  Church  History.  It  will 
not  be  understood  that  examinations  on  experimental  religion  aira 
theology  will  be  omitted.  The  Presbytery  may  also  require  an  ex- 
amination on  all,  or  any  part,  of  the  above  branches  of  literature,  be- 
fore licensure,  if  they  deem  it  expedient." 

Thus,  brethren,  we  have,  in  the  integrity  of  our  hearts, 
endeavored  to  give  you  as  correct  and  impartial  an  account 
of  the  rise  and  progress  of  the  cause,  or  causes,  that  have 
brought  us  into  our  present  situation,  as  justice  to  ourselves 
and  our  best  recollection  would  admit.  We  have  not  inten- 
tionally and  unjustly  exposed  or  covered  the  conduct  of  any 


18  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

man  or  judicature.  We  have  only  aimed  at  giving  a  clear, 
honest  view  of  the  matter,  that  you  might  be  enabled  to 
judge  for  yourselves  whether  we  have  acted  with  propriety 
or  impropriety.  If  we  be  in  an  error  we  are  not  conscious 
of  it. 

We  think,  brethren,  precipitancy  or  rashness  cannot  be 
justly  imputed  to  us  in  the  present  case.  We  have  waited, 
in  an  unorganized  state,  for  more  than  four  years,  and  in 
that  time  have  repeatedly  prayed  the  judicatures  to  redress 
our  grievances;  and  have  not  contended  for  one  privilege 
but  what  we  conscientiously  believe  God's  Word  allows  us. 
If  we  had  sought  or  desired  an  occasion  to  make  a  schism  in 
the  Church,  we  had  an  excellent  pretext,  after  the  unprec- 
edented conduct  of  the  Commission  of  Synod  towards  us. 
But  instead  of  this  we  voluntarily  suspended  our  operations 
as  a  Presbytery,  and  waited  from  year  to  year  (being  beset 
on  every  side)  hoping  the  matter  might  be  settled  on  prin- 
ciples just  and  equitable.  We  said,  "beset  on  every  side." 
Yes,  brethren,  a  number  of  you  know  that  various  sectaries 
took  the  advantage  of  our  forbearance  and  peculiar  situa- 
tion and  endeavored  to  rend  our  flourishing  congregations. 
The  swarms  of  heretics  and  fanatics  also  who  came  down 
from  the  upper  counties  of  Kentucky  gave  us  much  perplex- 
ity. Yet  we  determined  through  grace  to  stand  firm,  and 
continue  to  appeal  to  the  reason  and  justice  of  the  higher 
judicatures,  until  we  were  assured  they  were  not  disposed  to 
restore  our  rights.  This  assurance  we  have  at  length  ob- 
tained ;  and  there  was  no  alternative  left  us,  but  either  to  vi- 
olate our  solemn  vows  to  our  brethren, — act  contrary  to  our 
reason  and  conscience, — or  form  ourselves  into  a  Presby- 
tery separate  from  the  Kentucky  Synod.  This  step,  at  first 
view,  may  alarm  some  of  you.  But  be  assured,  brethren, 
that,  although  we  are  not  now  united  to  the  Presbyterian 
Church  by  the  external  bond  of  discipline,  we  feel  as  much 
union  in  heart  as  formerly,  and  we  would  further  assure  you 
that  we  have  not  set  up  as  a  party  inimical  to  the  general 
Presbyterian  Church;  no,  we  ourselves  are  Presbyterians 
and  expect  ever  to  remain  such,  whether  united  to  the  gen- 
eral body  or  not. 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  19 

Permit  us,  further,  to  inform  you  what  we  do  know  to  be 
an  incontestable  fact.  That  is,  there  are  a  number  of  min- 
isters who  are  kept  in  the  bosom  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  who  have  deviated  infinitely  more  from  the  Con- 
fession than  we  have  done.  One  can  boldly  deny  the  imputa- 
tion of  Christ's  active  obedience  to  the  sinner,  in  justifica- 
tion, and  publish  it  to  the  world ;  another  can  deny  the  oper- 
ation of  the  Holy  Spirit,  in  the  work  of  regeneration,*  and 
yet  we,  who  only  object  to  the  unqualified  idea  of  eternal 
reprobation,  cannot  be  indulged  in  that  objection! 

It  has  been  said  that  if  all  the  ministers  belonging  to  the 
Council  had  continued  together,  and  had  constituted  into  a 
Presbytery,  it  would  have  been  much  better.  Brethren,  if 
individuals,  for  reasons  best  known  to  themselves  and  their 
God,  have  thought  proper  to  change  a  position  in  which  we 
thought  God  had  blessed  them,  we  have  not  yet  felt  at  lib- 
erty to  do  likewise.  We  have  to  account  to  God  and  our  own 
consciences,  as  to  how  we  have  acted  in  this  matter. 

Some  have  feared  because  of  the  smallness  of  our  num- 
ber. Brethren,  we  have  yet  left,  in  the  bounds  of  our  Pres- 
bytery, almost  as  many  ministers,  exclusive  of  candidates, 
as  our  blessed  Lord  chose  to  spread  the  Gospel  through  the 
world.  And  whilst  we  acknowledge  the  greatest  inferiori- 
ty to  those  twelve  champions  of  the  Gospel,  yet  we  profess 
to  believe  that  neither  the  standing  nor  reputation  of  a  peo- 
ple depends  on  their  numbers.  If  this  were  admitted,  the 
Roman  Church,  when  it  was  at  its  zenith  of  superstition 
and  idolatry,  would  have  been  the  most  prominent  and  re- 
spectable in  the  world.  But  the  Reformation  and  subse- 
quent events  have  taught  us  that  was  not  the  case  with  it. 
But,  notwithstanding,  some  individuals  have  changed  their 
ground ;  yet,  as  far  as  we  have  learned,  but  very  few  of  the 
numerous  and  respectable  societies  or  congregations  have 
abandoned  us;  and  many  individuals  of  those  few  were 
partly  constrained  to  do  as  they  have  done  from  their  local 
situation. 


*See   Mr.   Davis'   publication,  in   South   Carolina,  and   Mr.    Craig- 
head's, of  Tennessee. 


20  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

Some  of  you  are  afraid  you  cannot  be  supplied  by  the 
Presbytery.  Brethren,  the  same  Almighty  Lord  of  the  har- 
vest who  heard  your  prayers  on  the  subject  ten  years  ago 
is  willing  to  hear  again.  Is  the  harvest  indeed  great  and 
the  laborers  few?  Well,  then,  pray  the  Lord  to  send  more 
laborers. 

Some  fear  lest  the  Presbytery  should  take  too  much  liber- 
ty in  licensing  and  ordaining  unlearned  men.  If  by  this  you 
mean  you  are  afraid  the  Presbytery  (in  some  instances) 
will  dispense  with  the  dead  languages,  your  fears  are  well 
grounded.  But  if  you  are  afraid  we  will  license  and  ordain 
men  without  a  good  English  education,  we  hope  your  fears 
are  without  foundation.*  And  while  we  thus  candidly  de- 
clare our  intention  to  receive  men  as  candidates,  those  with- 
out a  knowledge  of  the  languages,  who  are  men  of  good 
talents,  and  who  appear  to  be  evidently  called  of  God  (be- 
lieving, as  we  do,  that  there  are  thousands  in  the  Presby- 
terian Church  of  such  description,  who  would  make  more 
able  and  respectable,  and  more  useful  ministers  of  Jesus 
Christ  than  many  who  say  they  have  been  brought  up  at 
the  feet  of  Gamaliel),  we  would  nevertheless  recommend  it 
to  ail  parents  who  have  sons  who  promise  fair  for  the  min- 
istry, to  have  them  taught  the  Greek  language,  especially 
the  Greek  Testament.  Some  of  us,  brethren,  intend  to  do 
ourselves  what  we  here  recommend,  and  thereby  more  fully 
convince  you  of  our  sincerity. 

We  would  just  add,  that  we  have  it  in  view  as  a  Presby- 
tery to  continue  or  make  another  proposition  to  the  Synod 
of  Kentucky  or  some  other  Synod  for  a  re-union.  If  we  can 
obtain  it  without  violating  our  natural  and  scriptural  rights 
it  will  meet  the  most  ardent  wish  of  our  hearts.  If  we  can- 
not, we  hope  to  be  enabled  to  commit  ourselves  and  our 
cause  to  Him  who  is  able  to  keep  us.  Brethren,  if  we  live 
at  the  feet  of  the  Redeemer  and  feel  constant  dependence 
on  Him,  we  are  not  afraid  but  that  He  will  be  our  God  and 
director.  And  if  God  be  for  us,  who  can  be  against  us  ?  We 
therefore  entreat  you,  brethren,  to  watch  and  be  sober. 


*See  the  preamble  to  the  minutes  of  our  first  Presbytery. 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  21 

Cultivate  friendship  with  all  societies  of  Christians  who 
maintain  the  fundamental  doctrines  of  the  Gospel,  and 
whose  lives  comport  with  their  profession.  But  avoid  the 
multitude  of  deceivers  who  have  gone  out  into  the  world 
and  strike  at  the  root  of  all  religion.  Avoid  them,  we  en- 
treat you,  as  you  would  the  open  enemies  of  the  Cross  of 
Christ. 

Gird  on  the  whole  armour  of  God.  Fight  the  good  fight 
of  faith,  live  in  peace,  and  the  God  of  peace  shall  be  with 
you.  Amen. 

Samuel  M'Adow,  Moderator. 

'Test: — Young  Ewing,  Clerk. 

"The  Cumberland  Presbytery,  which  was  constituted  at 
the  tim.e  of  the  organization  of  the  Church,  and  which  orig- 
inally consisted  of  only  three  ministers,  was  in  three  years 
sufficiently  large  to  form  three  Presbyteries." — Frcm  Pre- 
face to  Confession  of  Faith,  1883. 

"Whereas,  This  Cumberland  Presbytery  has  m.ade  every 
reasonable  effort  to  be  reunited  to  the  general  Presbyterian 
Church;  and,  v/hereas,  from  the  extent  of  our  bounds,  the 
local  situation  of  our  members,  their  number,  etc.,  it  is  in- 
convenient to  do  business  in  but  one  Presbytery;  and, 
whereas,  the  constitution  of  a  Synod  would  be  desirable, 
and,  we  trust,  of  good  consequences  in  various  respects,  and 
particularly  as  a  tribunal  having  appellant  jurisdiction. 

"Resolved,  therefore,  by  this  Cumberland  Presbytery,  thr.t 
a  part  of  the  present  Cumberland  Presbytery  shall  be,  and 
is  hereby  directed  to  constitute  a  Presbytery,  known  by  the 
name  of  the  Elk  Presbytery.  The  boundaries  are  as  follows, 
to  wit:  Beginning  at  the  mouth  of  Duck  River,  thence  a 
due  north  course  to  the  top  of  the  Tennessee  Ridge,  thence 
eastwardly  along  the  top  of  said  ridge  to  Cumberland  Moun- 
tain, thence  south  to  Tennessee  River,  thence  easterly 
southvv'ardly,  and  westwardly  to  undefined  boundaries ;  to  be 
composed  of  the  following  members,  to  wit:  the  Rev. 
Messrs  William  McGee,  Sanuiel  King,  James  B.  Porter,  Rob- 
ert Bell,  and  Robert  Donnell;  to  meet  at  Mount  Carmel 
meeting-house  on  the  first  Tuesday  in  August  next.     Mr. 


22  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

McGee  (or  in  case  of  his  absence,  Mr.  Bell)  is  hereby  di- 
rected to  open  Presbytery  by  a  sermon.    The  following  per- 
sons shall  be  considered  under  the  direction  of  said  Presby- 
tery (to  wit,  Elk  Presbytery) :  John  Carnahan,  James  Stew- 
art, and  Elisha  Price,  when  constituted.    Also  that  another 
part  cf  the  present  members  of  this  Cumberland  Presby- 
tery shall  be,  and  are  hereby  directed  to  constitute  a  Pres- 
bytery to  be  known  by  the  name  of  Logan  Presbytery;  to 
be  composed  of  the  following  members,  to  wit:  the  Rev. 
Messrs.  Finis  Ewing,  William  Harris,  Alexander  Chapman, 
and  William  Barnett;  to  meet  on  the  fifth  Tuesday  in  Au- 
gust next  at  Red  River  meeting-house,  Logan  County,  Ken- 
tucky, the  Presbytery  to  be  opened  by  a  sermon  to  be  de- 
livered by  Mr.  Finis  Ewing,  or  Mr.  Harris,  in  case  of  his 
absence.     The  following  persons  shall  be  considered  under 
the  direction  of  said  Logan  Presbytery,  when  constituted,  to 
wit :  Philip  McDaniel,  Robert  McCorkle,  Green  P.  Rice,  John 
Barnett,  and  Daniel  Boe ;  the  boundaries  of  said  Presbytery 
to  be  as  follows :     Beginning  at  the  mouth  of  Duck  River, 
thence  a  direct  line  to  Cumberland  River,  so  as  to  include  the 
settlements  of  Yellow  Creek,  thence  up  Cumberland  River 
to  the  mouth  of  Half -Pone  Creek,  thence  a  direct  course  to 
the  Kentucky   State   line,   where   the   old   Kentucky   road 
crosses  said  line,  yet  so  as  to  leave  Karr's  Creek  society  in 
the  bounds  of  said  Presbytery,  leaving  out  what  is  called 
the  Ridge  society;  thence  eastwardly  to  undefined  bound- 
aries (it  is  understood,  however,  that  the  counties  of  Cum- 
berland and  Wayne,  in  Kentucky,  are  not  to  be  considered 
in  the  bounds  of  said  Presbytery),  thence  northward  and 
westward  to  undefined  boundaries  from  each  point.     It  is 
expressly  understood,  however,  that  lines  striking  off  from 
said  bounds  of  said  Logan  Presbytery  are  to  include  Wil- 
liam and  John  Barnett  and  Philip  McDaniel,  yet  not  so  as  to 
include  any  society  in  the  Cumberland  Presbytery,  or  terri- 
tory to  form  one  on,  and  it  is  hereby  understood  that  all 
the  congregations,    etc.,  within  the    natural  or  prescribed 
boundaries  of  either  of  the  Presbyteries  shall  be  considered 
under  the  care  of  their  respective  Presbyteries ;  and  it  is 
hereby  expressly  directed  and  mutually  agreed  to,  that  said 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  23 

Elk  and  Logan  Presbyteries  meet  this  Presbytery  with  their 
documents,  on  the  first  Wednesday  in  October,  at  the  Beech 
meeting-house,  in  Sumner  County,  and  State  of  Tennessee, 
for  the  express  purpose  of  constituting  a  Synod;  and  it  is 
hereby  directed  that  the  committee  appointed  to  draw  up  a 
complete,  though  succinct,  account  of  the  rise,  doctrines, 
etc.,  of  the  Cumberland  Presbytery,  make  their  report  to  the 
Synod  when  constituted,  and  it  is  hereby  ordered  that 
Messrs.  Bell,  Kirkpatrick,  and  Ewing  divide  in  three  equal 
parts,  as  near  as  may  be,  all  the  books  and  money  belong- 
ing to  the  Cumberland  Presbytery  Library,  and  allot  to 
this  Cumberland  Presbytery  one  part,  and  to  the  members 
intended  to  compose  the  Elk  Presbytery  one  part,  and  to  the 
members  intended  to  compose  the  Logan  Presbytery  the 
other  part,  to  be  disposed  of  in  their  several  Presbyteries 
according  to  the  institution  of  the  library." — From  Minutes 
of  Cumberland  Presbytery,  April,  1813. 

IL  THE  CUMBERLAND  SYNOD. 

"These  Presbyteries  (Cumberland,  Elk,  and  Logan),  in 
October,  A.  D.  1813,  met  in  the  Beech  Church,  in  Sumner 
County,  Tennessee,  and  constituted  a  Synod." — From  Pre- 
face to  Confession  of  Faith,  1883. 

At  these  sessions  of  Synod,  the  brief  view  of  the  doctrines 
and  discipline,  etc.,  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church, 
in  Woodward's  edition  of  Buck's  Theological  Dictionary, 
was  unanimously  approved  of,  and  directed  to  be  published 
in  that  work,  and  reads  as  follows : 

Doctrines. — It  has  been  already  observed,  that  the  Pres- 
byterian Confession  is  their  (Cumberland  Presbyterians') 
Confession,  "except  the  idea  of  fatality."  But  as  some  may 
think  this  too  indefinite,  it  may  be  proper  here  to  state  ex- 
plicitly all  the  essential  doctrines  or  tenets  they  hold. 

1st.  That  Adam  was  made  upright,  pure,  and  free;  ihat 
he  was  necessarily  under  the  moral  law  which  binds  all  in- 
telligences ;  and  having  transgressed  it,  he  was  consequent- 
ly, with  all  his  posterity,  exposed  to  eternal  punishment 
and  misery. 


24  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

2d.  That  Christ,  the  second  Adam,  represented  just  as 
many  as  the  first,  consequently  made  an  atonement  for  all, 
which  will  be  testified  in  due  time.  But  that  the  benefit  of 
that  atonement  will  be  received  only  by  the  true  believer. 

3d.  That  all  Adam's  family  are  totally  depraved,  conceived 
in  sin;  going  astray  from  the  womb,  and  all  children  of 
wrath,  therefore  must  be  born  again,  justified  and  sanctified, 
or  they  never  can  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  God. 

4th.  That  justification  is  by  faith  alone  as  the  instrument; 
"by  the  merits  of  Christ's  active  and  passive  obedience,  as 
the  meritorious  cause ;  and  by  the  operation  of  God's  Spirit 
as  the  efficient,  or  active  cause. 

5th.  That  as  the  sinner  is  justified  on  the  account  of 
Christ's  righteousness  being  imputed  or  accounted  to  him; 
on  the  same  account  he  will  be  enabled  to  go  on  from  one  de- 
gree of  grace  to  another,  in  a  progressive  life  of  sanctifi- 
cation,  until  he  is  fit  to  be  gathered  to  the  garner  of  God, 
who  will  certainly  take  to  glory  every  man  who  is  really 
justified;  that  is,  he,  Christ,  has  become  wisdom  (light  to 
convince),  righteousness  (to  justify),  sanctification  (to 
cleanse),  and  redemption  (to  glorify),  to  every  truly  regen- 
erated soul. 

6th.  That  there  are  three  persons  in  one  God,  co-equal, 
essential,  and  ■eternal ;  or,the  Father,  Word,  and  Holy  Ghost : 
that  the  Mediator  is  very  God  and  very  man;  two  distinct 
natures  in  the  same  person;  therefore,  while  humanity 
obeys  and  suffers,  there  is  infinite  worth  or  merit  given  to 
that  obedience  and  suffering,  by  the  union  of  the  divinity. 

They  dissent  from  the  Confession — in,  1st.  That  there  are 
no  eternal  reprobates.  2d.  That  Christ  died,  not  for  a  part 
only,  but  for  all  mankind.  3d.  That  all  infants,  dying  in  in- 
fancy, are  saved  through  Christ  and  sanctification  of  the 
Spirit.  4th.  That  the  Spirit  of  God  operates  on  the  world, 
or  as  co-extensively  as  Christ  has  made  the  atonement,  in 
such  a  manner  as  to  leave  all  men  inexcusable. 

As  to  the  doctrines  of  predestination  and  election,  they 
think  (with  many  eminent  and  modest  divines  who  have 
written  on  the  subject)  they  are  mysterious,  they  are  not 
well  pleased  with  the  application  that  rigid  Calvinists  or 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  25 

Arminians  make  of  them.  They  think  the  truth,  of  that,  as 
well  as  many  other  points  in  divinity,  lies  between  the  op- 
posite extremes.  They  are  confident,  however,  that  those 
doctrines  should  not,  on  the  one  hand,  be  so  construed  as  to 
make  anything  the  creature  has  done,  or  can  do,  at  all  meri- 
torious in  his  salvation;  or  to  lay  any  ground  to  say,  Well 
done  1;  or  to  take  the  least  degree  of  the  honor  of  our  jus- 
tification and  perseverance  from  God's  unmerited  grace  and 
Christ's  pure  righteousness.  On  the  other  hand,  they  are 
equally  confident  those  doctrines  should  not  be  so  construed 
as  to  make  God  the  author  of  sin,  directly  or  indirectly; 
either  of  Adam's  sin,  or  any  subsequent  sin  of  his  fallen 
race ;  or  to  contradict  the  express  and  repeated  declarations 
of  God's  Word  on  the  extent  of  the  atonement  and  opera- 
tions of  the  Spirit;  or  to  contradict  the  sincerity  of  God's 
expostulations  with  sinners,  and  make  his  oath  to  have  no 
meaning,  when  he  swears  he  has  no  pleasure  in  their  death ; 
or  to  resolve  the  whole  character  of  the  Deity  into  his  sov- 
reignty,  without  a  due  regard  to  all  other  of  his  adorable 
attributes.  Finally,  they  think  those  doctrines  ought  to  be 
thought  and  spoken  of  in  a  consistency  with  God's  moral 
government,  which  always  has  for  its  object  the  happiness 
of  his  intelligent  creatures,  when  it  consists  with  his  justice 
and  the  honor  of  the  divine  throne. 

Discipline. — Their  discipline  is  Presbyterian.  Their  con- 
gregations are  governed  by  church  sessions  and  Presby- 
teries, and  they  now  have  appointed  to  constitute  a  Synod 
to  be  called  the  Cumberland  Synod.  They  are  tenacious  of 
the  Presbyterian  form  of  Church  government ;  because  they 
believe  it  to  be  equitable,  just,  and  scriptural;  and  because 
it  tends  to  cherish  in  their  minds,  and  the  minds  of  their 
congregations,  a  love  of  civil  as  well  as  religious  liberty ;  its 
being  so  congenial  to  the  republican  form  of  government  es- 
tablished in  these  United  States ;  which  stands  equally  aloof 
from  monarchy  and  anarchy. 

On  the  subject  of  their  deviation  from  the  old  rule  with 
respect  to  literary  qualification  for  the  ministry,  they  would 
not  be  understood  as  undervaluing  that  precious  handmaid 
to  the  useful  work  of  a  Gospel  minister.    They  have  in  two 


26  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

publications,  called  A  Circular  Letter,  and  A  Reply,  given 
abundant  evidence  of  their  anxiety  to  acquire  and  promote 
useful  knowledge,  by  recommending  the  study  of  the  Greek 
Scriptures,  and  by  their  exertions  to  procure  a  circulating 
library  of  theological,  historical,  and  "scientific  books,  which 
they  are  increasing  from  time  to  time;  notwithstanding, 
they  are  persuaded  that  God  has  and  does  call  many  to 
preach  the  Gospel  who  have  no  knowledge  of  the  original 
languages,  and  who  have  been  and  are  eminently  useful  in 
their  profession.  They  have  therefore  dispensed  with  that 
condition,  as  not  being  absolutely  necessary;  yet  they  rec- 
ommend it,  when  it  can  conveniently  be  acquired.  From 
pursuing  this  course  they  have,  as  might  be  expected,  some 
learned  and  some  less  learned  preachers  of  the  everlasting 
Gospel;  the  latter  of  whom  appear  in  many  instances  to 
be  as  useful  in  promoting  the  work  of  God  as  the  former." 
— From  Rev.  James  Smith's  History,  pp.  645,  648. 

Confession  of  Faith. 

"At  this  same  meeting  of  Synod,  too,  a  committee  was 
appointed  to  prepare  a  Confession  of  Faith.  The  next  year, 
A.  D.,  1814,  at  Sugg's  Creek  church,  Wilson  County,  Ten- 
nessee, the  report  of  the  Committee  was  presented  to  Synod, 
and  the  revision  of  the  Westminster  Confession  of  Faith, 
which  they  presented,  was  unanimously  adopted  as  the  Con- 
fession of  Faith  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church." 
— From  Preface  to  Confession  of  Faith,  1883. 

Following  is  the  preface  to  the  Confession  of  Faith 
adopted  by  the  Synod  in  1814 : 

"The  Synod,  in  the  execution  of  the  following  work,  have 
only  exercised  a  right  which  they  think  every  association, 
or  body  of  Christians,  is  entitled  to  by  the  Great  Head  of 
the  Church,  as  well  as  by  the  laws  of  the  land.  If  the  read- 
er wishes  to  know  the  occurrences  that  gave  rise  to  this 
state  of  things  he  is  referred  to  the  Circular  Letter  [in- 
serted above]  of  the  late  Cumberland  Presbytery;  to  a 
Series  of  Letters  commonly  called  A  Reply  to  a  Pastoral 
Letter  of  West  Tennessee  Presbytery;  and  to  Buck's  The- 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  27 

ological  JDictionary,  third  edition,  under  the  letter  P,  printed 
in  Philadelphia.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  Synod  has  followed 
the  plan  of  the  Westminster  Divines,  in  their  Confession, 
Shorter  Catechism,  and  Directory.  In  the  Discipline  they 
have  necessarily  made  some  considerable  alterations:  not 
in  the  general  plan  of  Church  government  (which  they  deem 
the  best  extant),  but  in  the  literary  qualifications,  etc. 

"With  respect  to  the  Confession,  it  will  be  seen  the  Synod 
has  adopted  many  whole  chapters  of  the  old,  almost  ver- 
batim ;  in  others  they  have  retained  part  and  expunged  part ; 
sometimes  adding  a  section,  or  part  of  a  section,  to  make 
the  sense  more  full  and  more  compatible  with  their  ideas  of 
the  Gospel.  They  have  endeavored  to  erase  from  the  old 
Confession  the  idea  of  fatality  only,  which  has  long  since 
appeared  to  them  to  be  taught  in  part  of  that  book.  But 
notwithstanding,  the  Synod  have  ventured  to  model,  to  ex- 
punge, and  to  add  to  the  Confession  of  the  General  Presby- 
terian Church,  yet  they  are  free  to  declare  that  they  think 
that  to  be,  in  the  main,  an  admirable  work,  especially  to 
have  been  framed  so  shortly  after  the  Roman  superstition 
and  idolatry  had  almost  covered  the  whole  Christian  world. 
The  Synod  feel  the  greatest  veneration  for  the  compilers  of 
that  work;  yet  they  think  it  not  presumptuous,  nor  arro- 
gant, to  adopt  what  they  think  right,  and  expunge  what 
they  think  erroneous,  from  any  human  creed.  In  conformi- 
ty to  this  principle,  they  wish  this  work  to  be  examined; 
that  is,  let  it  be  tried,  not  by  former  Confessions,  but  by  the 
infallible  Word  of  Truth.  If  it  speaks  not  according  to  the 
Bible,  let  it  be  rejected;  but  if  it  does,  let  it  not  be  con- 
demned because  it  does  not  agree  with  all  the  Fathers. 

"The  Synod  have  been  prompted  by  a  desire  to  do  good 
in  presenting  this  Confession  and  Discipline  to  the  churches 
under  their  care,  and  to  the  world.  If  it  should  be  a  means, 
in  God's  hand,  of  promoting  the  kingdom  of  the  Redeemer, 
it  will  meet  the  highest  object  the  Synod  had  in  view." 


28  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

III.  THE  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY. 

"The  subject  of  a  General  Assembly  was  again  taken  up, 
and  after  mature  deliberation  and  fervent  and  solemn  pray- 
er— the  Great  Head  of  the  Church,  in  an  unusual  manner, 
seemed  graciously  to  afford  his  light — a  decision  was  made 
in  favor  of  a  General  Assembly.  The  vote  stood  thus:  for 
a  Delegated  Synod,  20 ;  for  a  General  Assembly,  67." — From 
Minutes,  1828. 

(Cumberland  Synod  segments  into  three  Synods:  Cum- 
berland, Green  River,  and  Columbia. — A.  C.  B. 

"Subsequently  the  formation  of  the  General  Assembly 
took  place.  This  judicature,  at  its  first  meeting,  A.  D.,  1829, 
at  Princeton,  Kentucky,  made  such  changes  in  the  Form  of 
Government  as  were  demanded  by  the  formation  of  this 
new  court." — From  Preface  to  Confession  of  Faith,  1883. 

Changes  in  the  Form  of  Government. 

Resolved,  That  Henry  F.  Delaney,  F.  R.  Cossitt,  Hiram 
A.  Hunter,  and  Richard  Beard  be  appointed  a  committee  to 
revise  and  prepare  for  publication  those  parts  of  the  Form 
of  Government  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church 
which  require  alteration  in  order  to  adapt  them  to  the  con- 
stitution of  a  General  Assembly. — MSS.  Minutes,  1829,  p. 
14. 

Synod's  Confession  of  Faith  Revised. 

"In  compiling  the  Confession  of  Faith,  the  Fathers  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  had  one  leading  thought 
before  them,  and  that  was  so  to  modify  the  Westminster 
Confession  as  to  eliminate  therefrom  the  doctrine  of  uni- 
versal foreordination  and  its  legitimate  sequences,  uncon- 
ditional election  and  reprobation,  limited  atonement,  and 
divine  influence  correspondingly  circumscribed.  All  the 
boldly-defined  statements  of  the  doctrine  objected  to  were 
expunged,  and  corrected  statements  were  made.  But  it 
was  impossible  to  eliminate  all  the  features  of  hyper-Cal- 
vinism from  the  Westminster  Confession  of  Faith  by  simply 
expunging  words,  phrases,  sentences,  or  even  sections,  and 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  29 

then  attempting  to  fill  the  vacancies  thus  made  by  corrected 
statem.ents  or  other  declarations,  for  the  objectionable  doc- 
trine, with  its  logical  sequences  pervaded  the -whole  sys- 
tem 01  theology  formulated  in  that  book. 

"The  compilers  knew  this,  and  they  also  knew  that  a  book 
thus  made  must  necessarily  have  some  defects.  Still,  they 
felt  assured  that  they  had  prepared  one  which  could  not  be 
fairly  and  logically  interpreted  without  contradicting  the 
most  objectionable  features  of  hyper-Calvinism ;  and  they 
felt,  too,  that  they  had  formulated  a  system  of  doctrines 
which  any  candid  enquirer  after  truth  might  understand. 
They  did  not,  however,  claim  that  the  time  would  never 
come  when  there  might  be  a  demand  for  a  restatement  of 
these  doctrines,  which  would  set  forth  more  clearly  and 
logically  the  system  of  theology  believed  and  taught  by  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church.  That  time  did  come, 
and  so  general  was  the  desire  throughout  the  Church  to 
have  the  Confession  of  Faith  revised,  that,  at  the  General 
Assembly  which  convened  in  the  city  of  Austin,  Texas,  A. 
D.,  1881,  a  paper  was  introduced  looking  to  that  end,  and  it 
was  adopted  by  a  unanimous  vote. 

"In  view  of  the  great  importance  of  the  work,  two  Com- 
mittees were  appointed,  and  it  was  made  the  duty  of  the 
First  Committee  to  revise  the  Confession  of  Faith  and  Gov- 
ernment, and  of  the  Second  to  review  and  revise  the  work 
of  the  First.  The  Committees  met  at  Lebanon,  Tennessee, 
the  seat  of  Cumberland  University,  where  every  facility 
could  be  enjoyed  for  such  labors,  having  free  access  to  a 
fine  theological  library.  After  bestowing  great  labor  upon 
their  work,  giving  every  item  earnest  and  prayerful  atten- 
tion, the  Committees  completed  the  tasks  assigned  them, 
and  the  results  of  their  labors  were  publishd  in  pamphlet 
form  and  in  weekly  papers  of  the  Church  for  information, 
'that  criticism  might  be  made  by  those  desiring  to  do  so.' 
The  Committees,  after  receiving  these  criticisms,  again  met, 
and  remained  in  session  for  a  number  of  days,  giving  care- 
ful and  prayerful  consideration  to  all  the  suggestions  made. 
They  then  completed  their  work  without  a  single  dissent, 
and  submitted  the  result  to  the  General  Assembly,  which 


80  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

convened  in  the  city  of  Huntsville,  Alabama,  A.  D.,  1882." 
— From  Preface  to  Confession  of  Faith,  1883. 

Accompanying  the  copy  of  the  proposed  revision,  the 
two  Committees  made  the  following  report: 

To  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church,  to  convene  at  Huntsville,  Alabama,  May,  1882. 

Reverend  and  Dear  Brethren: — The  Committees  ap- 
pointed by  the  last  General  Assembly  to  revise  the  Confes- 
sion of  Faith  and  Form  of  Government  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church  respectfully  submit  the  following  re- 
port: 

The  First  Committee  met  in  Lebanon,  Tennessee,  on  No- 
vember 18,  1881 — all  the  members  being  present — and  con- 
tinued its  labors  until  the  evening  of  the  24th,  holding 
three  sessions  daily,  Sunday  excepted. 

The  Second  Committee  convened  November  25,  1881,  at 
the  same  place — Ministers  C.  H.  Bell,  W.  J.  Darby,  and  Rul- 
ing Elder  R.  L.  Caruthers,  being  present — and  continued 
its  labors  one  week,  holding  three  sessions  daily,  Sunday  ex- 
cepted. 

After  this  meeting  the  work  of  the  Committees  was 
printed  in  pamphlet  form  and  distributed  for  information, 
that  suggestions  might  be  made  by  those  desiring  to  do  so. 

The  Committees  met  again  May  13,  1882,  and  continued 
in  session  until  the  evening  of  the  18th.  Present — Min- 
isters C.  H.  Bell,  J.  W.  Poindexter,  W.  J.  Darby,  S.  G. 
Burney,  A.  Templeton,  and  Ruling  Elder  John  Frizzell. 
During  this  meeting  all  the  suggestions  made,  and  they 
were  numerous,  received  careful  consideration,  and  we  now 
submit  the  result  of  our  deliberations. 

By  request,  the  First  Committee  was  present  with  the 
Second  at  its  meetings,  and  participated  in  its  deliberations. 

The  discussions  were  full  and  free,  evincing  a  wonderful 
harmony  of  opinion.  Some  preferences  as  to  verbal  form 
had,  of  course,  to  be  surrendered.  This,  however,  was  al- 
ways done  in  the  true  spirit  of  compromise,  and  in  no  in- 
stance was  there  a  negative  vote. 

Mindful  of  the  fact  that  the  Committees  were  appointed, 
not  to  make  a  new  Confession,  but  to  revise  the  old  one,  we 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  31 

have  studied  not  to  transcend  our  authority,  and  we  have 
no  hesitation  in  saying  that  we  have  not  changed  a  single 
doctrine  fundamental  to  your  scheme  of  theology,  or  any  of 
its  logical  correlates. 

We  have  attempted  to  draw  with  precision  the  boun- 
daries between  your  theological  scheme  and  those  of  other 
Churches,  and  then  to  allow  the  utmost  liberty  of  opinion 
within  those  bounds.  Hence,  we  have  not  sought  to  put 
into  this  revision  tenets  peculiar  to  any  man,  but  only  such 
as  are  common  to  all,  and  we  think  we  have  so  far  succeeded 
in  this  endeavor  as  that  every  intelligent  Cumberland  Pres- 
byterian can  cheerfully  subscribe  to  all  that  is  set  forth  in 
the  revision. 

Of  course,  if  individuals  should  insist  upon  having  their 
peculiar  opinions  on  matters  of  secondary  importance  made 
the  standard  of  orthodoxy,  they  may,  easily  enough,  find 
ground  of  objection.  But  any  revision  that  goes  largely  in- 
to detail  on  trivial  matters  could  not  and  should  not  meet 
with  general  favor. 

Reasons  for  Revision. 

We  deem  it  not  improper  to  indicate  some  of  the  reasons 
which  render  revision  proper  and  desirable : 

1.  Literature. — Our  Confession  is  little  more  than  an  ex- 
purgated edition  of  the  Westminster  Confession,  which  was 
written  nearly  two  hundred  and  forty  years  ago,  a  period 
of  time  sufficiently  long  to  produce  important  changes  in 
any  living  language,  especially  of  an  enterprising  and  lit- 
erary people.  It  is  not,  therefore  strange  that  some  words 
in  our  Book  are  obsolete,  or  nearly  so;  that  others  have 
varied  their  meaning,  more  or  less,  and  thus  become  sources 
of  obscurity.  Solecisms  in  grammar,  redundancies  in 
words,  and  tautologies  in  both  words  and  ideas,  largely 
abound.  These  are  patent  to  the  ordinary  reader.  They 
are  not  vital  defects,  yet  they  are  of  sufficient  importance 
to  render  revision  desirable. 

2.  Modes  of  Expression. — Many  phrases  and  forms  of 
verbal  combinations,  which  were  intelligible  two  hundred  and 
fifty  years  ago,  are  not  so  now.    Our  book  abounds  with  such 


32  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

expressions,  e.  g.,  The  grace  of  faith.  What  does  this  mean? 
Is  grace  one  thing  and  faith  another,  or  are  grace  and  faith 
the  same  thing?  Perhaps  ninety  out  of  a  hundred  would 
understand  them  to  mean  different  things,  and  would  be 
quite  surprised  when  told  they  mean  the  same  thing.  Do 
the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  pulpit  and  press  ordinarily,  or 
even  rarely,  use  these  words  in  such  combination?  Does 
the  Bible  ever  so  use  them?  The  expression  is  not  only 
misleading,  but  confounds  things  in  some  respects  essen- 
tially distinct,  and  hence  leads  to  error. 

Other  examples  involving  still  greater  obscurity  are  nu- 
merous. Note  the  following:  natural  liberty,  freedom  and 
power  to  will,  ability  of  will,  he  doth  not  perfectly  will,  re- 
newing their  wills.  Now  these  expressions  cannot  be  con- 
strued in  intelligible  thought  in  the  light  of  our  modem  psy- 
chology. They  are  unintelligible  to  everybody  unless  they 
are  studied  in  the  light  of  the  old  psychology  which  con- 
founded the  sensibilities  and  the  will,  and  is  the  strong- 
hold of  philosophical  necessity,  and  of  atheism  as  well. 
These  expressions  to  the  modern  reader  are  quite  without 
meaning,  but  when  taken  in  the  sense  intended  by  their  au- 
thors, contain  the  very  essence  of  fatality,  and  do,  of  them- 
selves, subject  us  to  the  charge  of  holding  to  contradictory 
doctrines,  namely,  that  of  freedom  and  that  of  necessity. 
Other  examples  of  a  similar  character  might,  but  need  not, 
be  given. 

3.  Discrepancy  of  Doctrinal  Statements. — The  great  cen- 
tral doctrine  of  the  Westminister  Confession  is  that  of  uni- 
versal foreordination.  The  logical  cognates  are,  uncondi- 
tional election  and  reprobation,  limited  atonement,  and  a 
corresponding  limitation  of  Divine  influence.  The  compilers 
of  our  Confession  were  not  in  a  condition  to  do  much  more 
than  expunge  the  more  boldly-defined  statements  of  distinc- 
tive Westminsterism,  and  to  make  counter-statements. 
This  is  no  matter  of  surprise,  for  it  is  simply  impossible  to 
eliminate  distinctive  Calvinism  from  the  old  Confession  by 
merely  expunging  here  and  there  a  word,  or  clause,  or  sen- 
tence,, or  a  section,  and  then  attempt  to  fill  the  gap  with  a 
counter-statement,  for  the  evil  is  not  here  or  there  but  ev- 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  33 

erywhere.  Hence,  the  doctrinal  statements  require  to  be 
largely  rewritten.  No  one  doubts  that  our  compilers  did  in- 
tend to  deny  universal  foreordination,  unconditional  election 
and  reprobation,  limited  atonement,  and  the  partial  influence 
of  the  Holy  Spirit.  Our  pulpit  and  press  have  faithfully  and 
prominently,  from  first  to  last,  reflected  this  intention  of  the 
compilers.  Traces  of  Westminsterism  are  discoverable  in 
many  parts  of  our  Confession,  notably  in  chapter  v.,  sec- 
tions 8  and  4 ;  chapter  viii.,  section  1.  The  last  cited  section 
is  a  slight  modification  of  the  old  Confession,  but,  when  an- 
alyzed, teaches  limitarianism  nearly  or  quite  as  strongly 
as  does  the  old. 

Chapter  ix.  gives  the  philosophy  of  universal  foreordi- 
nation, in  every  essential  respect,  just  as  the  Westminster 
Confession,  which,  as  formerly  stated,  is  the  philosophy  of 
necessity.  The  same  philosophy  pervades  chapter  x.  Chap- 
ter xi.,  sections  3  and  4,  teach,  by  necessary  inference,  a 
limited  atonement. 

It  is,  hence,  very  apparent  that  while  our  compilers  fully 
intended  to  eliminate  all  limitarian  doctrine,  they,  never- 
theless, did  retain  many  things  inconsistent  with  this  in- 
tention, 

4,  I/ength  and  Style. — Our  Confession  and  Catechism 
seem  to  us  to  be  too  long,  unnecessarily  diffuse  and  tedious, 
especially  for  children.  Our  revision  proposes  to  shorten 
these  by  more  than  one-half,  without  omitting  anything,  as 
we  believe,  of  pertinence  and  value, 

5.  Arrangement  of  Matter, — The  Introduction,  for  ob- 
vious reasons,  is  placed  at  the  beginning  of  the  book,  in- 
stead of  the  Form  of  Government,  as  heretofore.  The 
order  of  the  subjects  in  our  Confession  is  the  same  as  in  the 
Westminster.  This  is  a  logical  presentation  of  limitarian 
theology,  but  is  inconsistent  with  our  system  of  doctrines. 
For  this  reason  we  propose  a  change  in  the  order  of  sub- 
jects. The  headings  of  some  of  the  chapters  in  the  present 
book  are,  in  our  judgment,  not  pertinent  to  the  matter  ar- 
ranged under  them,  hence  changes  are  proposed,  e.  g., 
Effectual  Calling  is  changed  to  Divine  Influence,  and  the 
matter  arranged  accordingly.     Perseverance  of  the  Saints 


34  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

is  changed  to  Preservation  of  Believers,  which  better  suits 
the  subject  matter  under  that  heading.  A  new  heading  is 
proposed,  Regeneration,  also  one  entitled  Growth  in  Grace. 
These  added  headings  seem  to  be  necessary  to  a  full  and 
logical  presentation  of  our  doctrinal  scheme. 

6.  Our  Children  and  Rising  Ministry. — The  Church,  we 
believe,  owes  it  to  its  children,  and  especially  to  its  rising 
ministry,  to  present  them  with  a  condensed,  logical,  and 
self -consistent  statement  of  its  doctrines,  so  plain  that  they 
can  be  readily  understood  and  not  easily  misrepresented. 

7.  Opinions  of  Others. — A  proper  regard  to  the  opinion  of 
other  Churches  and  individuals  who  may  wish  to  look  in- 
to our  doctrines  seems  to  require  revision.  Through  the 
good  providence  and  grace  of  God,  our  Church  has  pros- 
pered and  attained  some  degree  of  fraternal  recognition 
among  the  evangelical  Churches  of  Christendom,  hence  an 
increased  desire  on  the  part  of  those  who  have  hitherto 
known  but  little  of  us  to  be  better  informed  as  to  our  faith 
and  practice. 

8.  Opinions  of  Our  Own  Men. — For  forty  years,  probably 
longer,  many  leading  men  of  the  Church  have  believed  re- 
vision necessary  in  order  that  we  might  have  a  clear  and 
distinct  statement  of  doctrine  which  would  free  us  from  all 
reasonable  ground  of  misapprehension  and  misrepresenta- 
tion. Even  our  compilers  themselves,  who  did  their  work 
as  well  as  it  was  possible  under  the  circumstances,  often 
confessed  and  deplored  the  defects  of  the  book.  Some  ef- 
forts at  revision  have  been  made  heretofore,  but  seem  to 
have  been  premature.  It  is  now  believed  by  many  that  the 
time  has  fully  come  when  the  work  can  be  satisfactorily 
done. 

9.  Changes  Generally. — Some  changes  in  the  Confession 
have  been  made  for  improvement  in  style,  some  for  brevity, 
Bome  for  clearness  of  statement,  some  for  doctrinal  consist- 
ency. 

Form  of  Government. 

As  to  the  Government  of  the  Church,  no  material  changes 
are  proposed,  except  such  as  were  found  necessary  to  pre- 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  35 

sent  more  clearly  the  practice  and  usage  of  our  Church 
courts,  and  such  as  were  deemed  proper  to  develop  more 
certainly  our  work  and  resources. 

In  the  Constitution,  which  takes  the  place  of  what  is  now 
termed  Form  of  Government,  are  included  only  those  funda- 
mental principles  which,  with  the  Rules  of  Discipline,  are 
not  to  be  changed  without  the  approval  of  the  Presby- 
teries. 

The  General  Regulations  include  such  provisions,  not 
fundamental  in  character,  as  are  of  general  application, 
and  like  the  Directory  for  Worship,  and  Rules  of  Order,  may 
be  amended  by  a  two-thirds  vote  of  the  General  Assembly. 
This  distinction  is  deemed  desirable  in  order  that  our  pro- 
gress as  a  denomination  may  not  be  retarded  by  delays  in 
perfecting  our  plans  of  operation  from  time  to  time. 

Except  the  Rules  for  Discipline,  the  revision  submitted 
is  not  so  long  as  the  corresponding  matter  in  our  present 
book.  We  have  studied  brevity,  but  found  we  could  not  say 
less  and  present  what  was  necessary  to  a  clear  understand- 
ing of  the  matter. 

Our  present  Form  of  Process  is  so  meager  in  detail  as 
to  be  almost  worthless,  and  while  we  agree  that  Church 
trials  are  greatly  to  be  deplored,  and  always  to  be  avoided 
when  possible,  yet  we  feel  that  nothing  less  could  be  said 
than  is  contained  in  the  Rules  of  Discipline,  and  do  the  sub- 
ject justice. 

The  Directory  for  Worship  has  been  much  abbreviated 
in  matters  where  the  judgment  of  the  minister  is  a  sufficient 
guide,  and  some  features  have  been  added,  thought  to  be 
necessary  to  every  pastor's  convenience.  The  entire  chap- 
ter on  the  Mode  of  Inflicting  Church  Censures  has  been 
omitted,  as  that  subject  is  treated  in  Rules  of  Discipline. 

Proof  Texts. 

The  texts  of  Scripture  sustaining  the  positions  taken  are 
not  now  presented,  as  this  may  be  done  after  the  subject 
has  been  acted  upon  by  the  Presbyteries. 


36  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

Conclusion 

We  have  given  the  work  assigned  us  our  earnest  ana 
prayerful  consideration,  and  humbly  hope  that  the  revision 
herewith  submitted  is  such  as  was  contemplated  in  our  ap- 
pointment, and  as  will  promote  the  welfare  of  our  beloved 
Zion. 

Respectfully  submitted, 
S.  G.  Burney, 
A.  Templeton, 
John  Frizzell, 

First  Committee. 

C.  H.  Bell. 
J.  W.  Poindexter, 
W.  J.  Darby, 
R.  L.  Caruthers, 
May  19,  1882.  Second  Committee. 

"That  General  Assembly  [1882],  in  Committee  of  the 
Whole,  considered  with  great  patience  and  care  every  item 
in  the  entire  book,  taking  a  vote  on  each  one  separately, 
and  at  the  close  of  each  chapter  or  subject  taking  a  vote 
upon  it  as  a  whole.  In  this  way  the  entire  book,  from  be- 
ginning to  end,  was  carefully  and  prayerfully  scrutinized, 
and  necessary  changes  were  made — the  most  of  them  ver- 
bal; and  there  was  not  in  the  final  vote  a  single  negative! 

"Having  completed  its  work,  the  General  Assembly  trans- 
mitted the  book  to  the  Presbyteries  for  their  approval  or 
disapproval,"  (From  Preface  to  Confession  of  Faith,  1883), 
as  is  shown  in  the  accompanying  resolutions  from  the  Min- 
utes of  that  meeting  (1882),  page  36: 

Resolved,  That  the  Revised  Confession  of  Faith  and  Gov- 
ernment of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  presented 
by  the  Committee  on  Revision,  as  amended  by  the  Commit- 
tee of  the  Whole,  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  approved  and 
transmitted  to  the  Presbyteries  for  their  action,  in  the  fol- 
lowing manner,  that  is  to  say : 

1.  Each  Presbytery  will,  in  one  vote,  express  its  approval 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  37 

or  disapproval  of  the  Introduction,  the  Confession  of  Faith, 
and  the  Catechism,  taken  together  "as  a  whole. 

It  being  hereby  distinctly  understood  and  declared  that 
those  who  have  heretofore  received  and  adopted  the  Confes- 
sion of  Faith  approved  by  the  General  Assembly  in  1829, 
and  who  prefer  to  adhere  to  the  doctrinal  statements  con- 
tained therein,  are  at  liberty  to  do  so. 

2.  Each  Presbytery  will,  in  one  vote,  express  approval 
or  disapproval  of  the  Constitution  and  the  Rules  of  Dis- 
cipline, taken  together  as  a  whole. 

3.  Each  Presbytery  will,  in  one  vote,  express  approval  or 
disapproval  of  the  General  Regulations,  the  Directory  for 
Worship,  and  the  Rules  of  Order,  taken  together  as  a  whole. 

Revised  Confession  of  Faith  Printed  and  Distributed  for 

Examination. 

It  was  ordered  that  the  Stated  Clerk  of  the  General  As- 
sembly shall  have  the  Revised  Confession  of  Faith  and 
Government  printed,  and  that  a  copy  shall  be  sent  to  each 
of  the  ordained  ministers,  licentiates,  candidates,  and  clerks 
of  church  sessions. — 1882,  p.  38. 

Proof  Texts  Selected. 

Whereas,  There  is  a  reasonable  probability  that  a  large 
majority  of  the  Presbyteries  will  adopt  the  revision  of  the 
Confession  of  Faith,  transmitted  to  them  by  this  General 
Assembly,  therefore. 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  on  Revision  be  instructed 
to  prepare  appropriate  proof -texts  for  the  Revised  Confes- 
sion of  Faith,  and  to  submit  the  same  to  the  next  General 
Assembly.    Adopted.— 1882,  p.  38. 

The  Committee  on  Revision,  directed  by  the  General  As- 
sembly at  its  last  meeting  to  report  suitable  proof-texts 
for  the  Revised  Confession  of  Faith,  have  discharged  that 
duty,  and  submit  the  same  herewith. — 1883,  p.  42. 

"The  reports  from  the  Presbyteries  to  the  next  General 
Assembly,  which  convened  in  the  city  of  Nashville,  Ten- 
nessee, A.  D.,  1883,  showed  that  this  work  had  been  almost 


88  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

unanimously  adopted.  The  General  Assembly,  having  re- 
viewed these  returns  from  the  Presbyteries,  formally  de- 
clared said  book  to  be  the  Confession  of  Faith  and  Gov- 
ernment of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church." — From 
Preface  to  Confession  of  Faith,  1883. 


CONFESSION  OF  FAITH  ADOPTED— 1883. 

Below  will  be  found  the  acts  of  the  General  Assembly  in 
finally  declaring  the  Revised  Confession  of  Faith  and  Gov- 
ernment to  be  of  binding  authority: 

Report  on  Revision. 

The  Stated  Clerk  made  the  following  report  on  Revision, 
which  was  concurred  in,  whereupon  it  was  declared  that 
the  Confession  of  Faith  and  Government  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church  had  been  constitutionally  changed, 
and  that  the  Revised  Confession,  as  approved  by  the  Pres- 
byteries, is  hereafter  to  be  of  binding  authority  upon  the 
churches : 

I.     Introduction,  Confession  of  Faith,  and  Catechism. 

Approving  unanimously  —  Alabama,  Albion,  Anderson, 
Athens,  Bacon,  Bartholomew,  Bell,  Bethel,  Charlotte,  Chilli- 
cothe,  Colesburg,  Colorado,  Davis,  Elk,  Foster,  Georgia, 
Guthrie,  Helena,  Hopewell,  Indiana,  Kansas,  Kirkpatrick, 
Knoxville,  La  Crosse,  Leavenworth,  Lexington,  Little  River, 
Logan,  Madison,  Marshall,  McGready,  McLin,  Memphis, 
Mississippi,  Morgan,  Mound  Prairie,  Nebraska,  New  Hope, 
Obion,  Ocoee,  Oxford,  Red  Oak,  Republican  Valley,  Rocky 
Mountain,  Rushville,  Salem,  Salt  River,  San  Jacinto,  San 
Saba,  Searcy,  Sparta,  St.  Louis,  Tennessee,  Texas,  Trinity, 
Waco,  West  Iowa,  West  Prairie,  White  River,  White  Rock, 
Yazoo — 61. 

Approving  with  one  dissenting  vote — Cumberland,  May- 
field,  Platte,  Richland,  Sacramento,  Tehuacana,  Wabash — 7. 

Approving,  vote  not  given — Arkansas,  Burrow,  Decatur, 
Elyton,  Ewing  (Ark.),  Ewing  (111.),  Greenville,  Guadalupe, 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  39 

Illinois,  Iowa,  Jackson,  Kentucky,  King,  Kirksville,  Louisi- 
ana, Mackinaw,  McGee,  McMinnville  (3  dissenting  votes), 
Miami,  Muskingum,  Nashville,  Neosho,  Nolin,  Oregon, 
Ouachita,  Parsons,  Pennsylvania  (3  dissenting  votes),  Red 
River,  Sangamon,  Springfield,  Tulare,  Vandalia — 32. 

Disapproving — Allegheny,  Califomia,  Hiwassee,  New 
Lebanon,  Ozark,  Springville,  Talladega,  Walla  Walla,  Wil- 
lamette (tie  vote)  — 9. 

Not  reporting — Gregory,  Hot  Springs,  Washington — 3. 

Presenting  memorials — Ohio,  Princeton,  Union,  Wichita 
(protest) — 4. 

Approving  unanimously    61 

Approving,  one  dissenting  vote 7 

Approving,  vote  not  given   32 — 100 

Disapproving 9 

Not  reporting 3 

Presenting  memorials    4 


116 
II.     Constitution  and  Rules  of  Discipline. 

Approving  unanimously — Alabama,  Albion,  Anderson, 
Athens,  Bacon,  Bartholomew,  Bell,  Bethel,  Charlotte,  Chilli- 
cothe,  Colesburg,  Colorado,  Davis,  Elk,  Foster,  Georgia, 
Guthrie,  Helena,  Hopewell,  Indiana,  Kansas,  Kirkpatrick, 
Knoxville,  LaCrosse,  Leavenworth,  Lexington,  Little  River, 
Logan,  Madison,  Marshall,  McGready,  McLin,  McMinnville, 
Memphis,  Mississippi,  Morgan,  Mound  Prairie,  Nebraska, 
New  Hope,  Obion,  Ocoee,  Oxford,  Pennsylvania,  Red  Oak, 
Republican  Valley,  Richland,  Rocky  Mountain,  Rushville, 
Sacramento,  Salem,  Salt  River,  San  Jacinto,  San  Saba, 
Searcy,  Sparta,  St.  Louis,  Tennessee,  Texas,  Trinity,  Van- 
dalia, Waco,  West  Iowa,  West  Prairie,  White  River,  White 
Rock,  Yazoo — 66. 

Approving  with  one  dissenting  vote — Cumberland,  May- 
field,  Platte,  Tehuacana,  Wabash — 5. 

Approving,  vote  not  given — Arkansas,  Burrow,  Cali- 
fornia, Decatur,  Elyton,  Ewing  (Ark.),  Ewing  (111.),  Green- 


40  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

ville,  Guadalupe,  Hiwassee,  Illinois,  Iowa,  Jackson,  Ken- 
tucky, King,  Kirksville,  Louisiana,  Mackinaw,  McGee, 
Miami,  Muskingum,  Nashville,  Neosho,  Lebanon,  Nolin, 
Oregon,  Ouachita,  Ozark,  Parsons,  Red  River,  Sangamon, 
Springfield,  Tulare,  Walla  Walla,  Willamette— 35. 

Disapproving — Allegheny,  Springville,  Talladega — 3. 

iN'ot  reporting — Gregory,  Hot  Springs,  Washington — 3. 

Presenting  memorials — Ohio,  Princeton,  Union,  Wichita 
(protest) — 4. 

Approving  unanimously    66 

Approving,  one  dissenting  vote   5 

Approving,  vote  not  given 35 — 106 

Disapproving 3 

Not  reporting   3 

Presenting  memorials    4 


116 


III.  General  Regulations,  Directory  for  Worship,  and  Rules 

of  Order. 

Approving  unanimously — Alabama,  Albion,  Anderson, 
Athens,  Bacon,  Bartholomew,  Bell,  Bethel,  Charlotte,  Chil- 
licothe,  Colesburg,  Colorado,  Davis,  Elk,  Foster,  Georgia, 
Guthrie,  Helena,  Hopewell,  Indiana,  Kansas,  Kirkpatrick, 
Knoxville,  LaCrosse,  Leavenworth,  Lexington,  Little  River, 
Logan,  Madison,  Marshall,  McGready,  McLin,  McMinnville, 
Memphis,  Mississippi,  Morgan,  Mound  Prairie,  Nebraska, 
New  Hope,  Obion,  Ocoee,  Oxford,  Pennsylvania,  Red  Oak, 
Republican  Valley,  Richland,  Rocky  Mountain,  Rushville, 
Sacramento,  Salem,  Salt  River,  San  Jacinto,  San  Saba, 
Searcy,  Sparta,  St.  Louis,  Tennessee,  Texas,  Trinity,  Van- 
dalia,  Waco,  West  Iowa,  West  Prairie,  White  River,  White 
Rock,  Yazoo — 66. 

Approving,  with  one  dissenting  vote — Cumberland,  May- 
field,  Platte,  Tehuacana,  Wabash — 5. 

Approving,  vote  not  given — Arkansas,  Burrow,  Cali- 
fornia, Decatur,  Elyton,  Ewing  (Ark.),  Ewing  (111.),  Green- 
ville, Guadalupe,  Hiwassee,  Illinois,  Iowa,  Jackson,  Kentucky, 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  41 

King,  Kirksville,  Louisiana,  Mackinaw,  McGee,  Miami,  Mus- 
kingum, Nashville,  Neosho,  New  Lebanon,  Nolin,  Oregon, 
Ouachita,  Ozark,  Parsons,  Red  River,  Sangamon,  Spring- 
field, Talladega,  Tulare,  Walla  Walla— 35. 

Disapproving — Allegheny,  Springville,  Willamette  (tie 
vote)— 3. 

Not   reporting — Gregory,   Hot   Springs,   Washington — 3. 

Presenting  Memorials — Ohio,  Princeton,  Union,  Wichita 
(protest) — 4. 

Approving  unanimously    66 

Approving,  one  dissenting  vote 5 

Approving,  vote  not  given 35 — 106 

Disapproving 3 

Not  reporting   3 

Presenting  memorials    4 


116 
—1883,  pp.  10,  11. 

Memorials  on  Revision. 

Memorials  on  Revision  were  presented,  and  referred  to 
the  Committee  on  Revision. — 1883,  p.  12. 

Report  on  Revision. 

The  report  of  the  Committee  on  Revision  was  amended 
and  adopted,  and  is  as  follows : 

The  Committee  on  Revision,  having  carefully  considered 
the  memorials  upon  the  subject  referred  to  them,  and  also 
the  various  propositions  submitted  to  them  by  individual 
brethren  suggesting  amendments  to  the  Confession  of 
Faith,  respectfully  report: 

In  view  of  the  fact  that  this  subject  has  been  so  recently 
acted  upon  by  the  Presbyteries,  and  that  their  action,  ap- 
proving the  Revised  Confession  of  Faith,  has  been  so  nearly 
unanimous,  it  seems  to  us  unwise  to  attempt,  at  thjs  time, 
to  determine  what,  if  any,  propositions  to  amend,  coming 
from  individuals,  are  proper  or  ought  to  be  transmitted 


42  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

for  the  action  of  the  Presbyteries.  Sufficient  time  has  not 
elapsed  to  enable  the  General  Assembly,  as  we  think,  sat- 
isfactorily to  determine  what,  if  any,  amendments  or 
changes  are  desired  by  the  Church.  While  the  General 
Assembly  has  the  right,  of  its  own  motion  or  upon  the  sug- 
gestion of  any  individual,  to  consider  and  recommend,  in 
the  manner  pointed  out  in  the  Constitution,  any  proposed 
amendment  which  it  may  deem  desirable,  yet  it  is  not,  we 
respectfully  submit,  expedient  at  this  time  to  undertake 
such  work. 

A  memorial  from  a  Presbytery  upon  this  subject,  or 
any  other  within  the  legitimate  sphere  of  Presbyterial  au- 
thority, should  receive,  and  we  doubt  not  would  always  re- 
ceive, respectful  and  careful  consideration  by  the  General 
Assembly.  While  we  may  not  hope  that  a  Confession  of 
Faith  can  be  framed  which,  in  its  minor  details  and  modes 
of  expression,  will  meet  the  views  of  every  individual  mem- 
ber of  the  Church,  and  while  this  has  not  been,  and  should 
not  be  attempted,  it  is  desirable  to  have  in  it  a  fair  decla- 
ration of  the  doctrines  of  the  Church  as  held  and  believed 
by  the  Presbyteries  as  constituent  bodies,  representing  the 
entire  membership  of  the  Church.  We  submit,  too,  that 
the  General  Assembly  should  be  slow  to  assume  any  de- 
sire on  the  part  of  the  Presbyteries  to  make  any  changes, 
in  the  absence  of  an  expression  from  them  to  that  effect, 
although  it  should  and  does  give  respectful  consideration 
to  the  views  of  individual  brethren. 

For  these  reasons,  and  others  which  might  be  given,  we 
respectfully  report  adversely  upon  all  the  propositions  sub- 
mitted to  us,  coming  from  individuals,  to  amend  or  change 
the  Confession  of  Faith,  believing  it  more  desirable  to  await 
expressions  from  the  Presbyteries,  if  any  of  them  desire 
to  make  suggestions;  and  should  any  of  the  Presbyteries 
desire  to  offer  amendments,  we  think  it  would  be  well  for 
them  to  forward  the  same  to  the  General  Assembly  at  its 
next  meeting. 

We  have  considered  the  memorials  from  Presbyteries; 
and  as  to  those  from  Allegheny,  New  Lebanon,  Princeton, 
and  Union,  which  in  effect  ask  that  the  whole  subject  of 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  43 

Revision  be  committed  to  a  new  committee,  or  that  it  be 
postponed,  we  respectfully  submit  that  such  a  course  is 
not  expedient,  and  we  recommend  that  the  prayer  of  these 
memorialists  be  not  granted. 

We  have  considered  the  protest  from  members  of  Wichita 
Presbytery  against  the  adoption  of  the  Revised  Confes- 
sion of  Faith  and  Government,  and  seeing  that  this  is  a 
matter  which  is  not  under  the  control  of  the  General  As- 
sembly, but  belongs  to  the  Presbyteries,  we  ask  to  be  dis- 
charged from  its  further  consideration. 

The  memorial  from  the  Ohio  Presbytery  proposes  certain 
amendments  to  the  Revised  Confession  of  Faith.  We  have 
carefully  considered  these  proposed  amendments,  and  are 
constrained  to  recommend  that  they  be  not  adopted.  None 
of  them  are,  in  our  opinion,  to  be  desired. 

We  have  to  say,  however,  that  while  we  cannot  recom- 
mend the  proposition  contained  in  this  memorial  upon  the 
subject  of  Sanctification,  yet  we  feel  free  to  say  that  the 
proposition  upon  this  subject,  submitted  to  the  General  As- 
sembly at  its  last  meeting  by  the  Committee,  is,  in  our  opin- 
ion, preferable  to  that  adopted  at  that  time.  With  some 
unimportant  verbal  changes,  that  proposition  is  as  follows: 

"Those  who  believe  to  the  saving  of  their  souls  are  in  be- 
lieving also  sanctified.  This  sanctification  consists  of  a  full 
surrender  of  self,  and  an  unreserved  consecration  of  the 
whole  man  to  God  and  his  service,  and  is  of  the  ability  which 
God  gives. 

In  obedience  to  the  Divine  command,  and  resting  upon  the 
promise,  it  is  the  duty  of  Christians  to  cleanse  themselves 
from  all  filthiness  of  the  flesh  and  spirit,  perfecting  holi- 
ness in  the  fear  of  God. 

Christians,  because  of  worldly-mindedness,  have  frequent 
occasion  for  repentance,  and  for  renewing  their  consecra- 
tion. 

Whether  Sanctification,  in  addition  to  separation  from 
worldliness  and  consecration  to  God,  also  includes  the  idea 
of  progressive  moral  purity  in  the  sense  in  which  Regen- 
eration purifies,  is  a  question  concerning  which  opinions 


44  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

differ.  Liberty  of  conscience  is  therefore  allowed  on  this 

subject." 

S.  G.  Burney, 
John  Frizzel, 
C.  H.  Bell, 
J.  W.  Poindexter, 
W.  J.  Darby. 
—1883,  pp.  29,  30. 

Last  Action  on  Revision. 

Your  Committee  on  Overtures  have  examined  the  me- 
morial referred  to  us  from  the  following  Presbyteries,  each 
of  which  suggests  various  changes  in  the  Confession  of 
Faith  and  Book  of  Discipline :  Tehuacana,  Colorada,  Foster, 
Bonham,  Indiana,  Kirksville,  and  Talladega. 

Your  Committee  feel  that  the  changes  proposed  would 
not  prevent  considerable  discussion  after  their  report  was 
presented  to  your  body,  and  thereby  lead  to  a  further  refer- 
ence to  them  with  instructions ;  and  believing  that  it  would 
be  more  satisfactory  to  the  memorialists  and  to  the  general 
Church  that  the  suggestions  therein  contained  be  fully  and 
amply  discussed  in  a  Committee  of  the  Whole,  therefore  we 
would  request  that  the  said  memorials  be  referred  back  to 
your  body  for  final  action.    Adopted. — 1884,  p.  15. 

Committee  of  the  Whole — Revision. 

On  motion,  the  General  Assembly  went  into  Committee  of 
the  Whole  to  consider  memorials  from  certain  Presbyteries 
on  the  subject  of  Revision.  After  having  finished  its  work, 
the  Committee  of  the  Whole  rose,  and  the  Chairman  re- 
ported that,  after  considering  the  memorials  which  had  been 
presented  to  the  General  Assembly  on  Revision,  a  memorial 
coming  from  McMinnville  Presbytery  had  been  adopted  as 
expressing  the  sentiment  of  the  Committee.  He  further  re- 
ported that  the  Committee  desired  the  General  Assembly  to 
adopt  said  memorial  also,  and  to  concur  in  its  recommenda- 
tion, which  the  Assembly  then  did,  the  memorial  being  as 
follows : 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  45 

The  following  preambles  and  resolutions  were  adopted  by 
the  McMinnville  Presbytery  May  3,  1884,  to  wit : 

Whereas,  The  General  Assembly  did,  while  in  session  at 
Austin,  Texas,  in  May,  1881,  appoint  a  committee  of  able 
and  discreet  men  to  revise  the  Confession  of  Faith  and  Form 
of  Government  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  so 
that  said  Confession  might  express  clearly  and  accurately 
the  doctrines  taught  from  our  pulpits  and  by  our  press,  and 
that  our  Form  of  Government  might  confoiTn  in  all  its 
points  to  the  usages  of  the  Church ;  and, 

Whereas,  Said  Committee,  after  carefully  revising  the 
Confession  of  Faith  and  Form  of  Government,  submitted 
their  work  to  the  General  Assembly,  in  session  at  Hunts- 
ville,  Ala.,  in  May,  1882 ;  and, 

Whereas,  Said  General  Assembly,  in  Committee  of  the 
Whole,  did  consider  the  subject,  item  by  item,  and  after 
recommending  certain  amendments,  adopted  the  Revised 
Confession  of  Faith  and  Form  of  Government,  transmitting 
the  same  to  the  Presbyteries  for  their  appro \'al  or  disap- 
proval ;  and. 

Whereas,  The  Revised  Confession  of  Faith  and  Form  of 
Government  were  approved  with  great  unanimity  by  a  large 
majority  of  the  Presbyteries,  thereby  becoming  the  Faith 
and  Government  of  the  Church ;  therefore. 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  Presbytery  that  it 
is  unwise  to  agitate  the  subject  of  alteration  or  change  in 
the  Confession  of  Faith  and  Fonn  of  Government  so  soon 
after  its  almost  unanimous  approval  by  the  whole  Church, 
saying  to  the  outside  world  that  we  are  dissatisfied  with  our 
theological  status. 

Resolved,  That  this  Presbytery,  by  these  preambles  and 
resolutions,  do  memorialize  the  General  Assembly  which 
meets  at  McKeesport,  Pa.,  on  the  15th  inst.,  to  advise  all 
our  judicatures  and  individual  members  to  desist  (at  least 
for  the  present)  from  the  agitation  of,  alteration,  or  change 
in  the  Faith  and  Government  of  the  Church. — 1884,  pp.  17, 
18. 

(Logically,  these  Historical  Statements  should  not    end 


46  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

without  some  account  of  the  attempted  merging  of  the  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  Church  into  the  Presbyterian  Church 
U.  S.  A.,  which  began  in  Nashville,  Tenn.,  at  the  Assembly 
which  met  there  in  1903  and  ended  with  that  shameless 
declaration  of  "constitutional  union"  made  in  the  Assembly 
which  met  in  Decatur,  111.,  in  1906,  of  which,  and  concern- 
ing which,  the  General  Assembly  makes  the  following  de- 
liverance.— A.  C.  B.) 

IV.  The  Assembly  Makes  a  Deliverance  on  the  Attempted 

Merger. 

The  General  Assembly  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church  in  session  at  Decatur,  111.,  May  24,  A.  D.,  1906: 
This  General  Assembly  was  regularly  constituted  on  May 

17,  A.  D.,  1906,  and  thereafter  was  fully  organized  on  May 

18,  with  Rev.  Ira  Landrith  as  Moderator  thereof  and  Rev. 
J.  M.  Hubbert  as  Stated  Clerk  thereof. 

And  thereafter,  on  May  24,  A.  D.,  1906,  the  union  com- 
missioners to  said  Assembly  resolved  by  vote  to  adjourn 
this  Assembly  without  day  or  place  to  meet  again,  and  by 
said  resolution  and  subsequent  action  declared  their  inten- 
tion and  determination  not  to  meet  again  as  a  separate 
organization,  but  to  enter  the  communion  of  another  Church 
— the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America 
— and  by  said  action  the  Moderator  and  Stated  Clerk  going 
with  said  unionists,  vacated  their  said  offices,  and  the  loyal 
commissioners  to  said  Assembly,  consisting  of  the  follow- 
ing named  persons,  then  protested  against  the  said  action 
of  said  unionists  as  being  illegal  for  the  following  reasons : 

A  Protest. 

"We,  the  undersigned,  being  regularly  elected  commis- 
sioners to  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Cumberland  Pres- 
byterian Church,  which  convened  in  the  city  of  Decatur,  111., 
on  the  17th  day  of  May,  A.  D.,  1906,  now  here  make  this 
our  solemn  protest  against  the  action  of  said  unionists  in 
adopting  the  report  of  the  Committee  on  Fraternity  and 
Union  and  agreeing  in  said  report  to  adjourn  sine  die.  And 
we  assign  the  following  reasons  for  our  protest: 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  47 

"1.  The  Assembly  is  without  power  to  declare  the  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  Church  as  a  separate  organization  at 
an  end. 

"2.  That  unionists  have  no  power  nor  right  to  declare 
that  the  Confession  of  Faith  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
in  the  United  States  of  America,  as  revised  in  1903,  and 
its  other  Doctrinal  and  Ecclesiastical  Standards  have  been 
adopted  by  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  in  ac- 
cordance with  its  Constitution.  And  in  the  opinion  of  these 
protests  such  statement  is  not  correct. 

"3.  Said  unionists  had  no  power  to  transfer  the  allegiance 
of  the  ministers,  elders,  deacons,  and  officers  of  particular 
churches,  judicatories,  Boards  and  Committees  to  another 
denomination  of  Christians  and  make  them  amenable  to 
another  Church  creed  and  constitution. 

"4.  Said  unionists  had  no  power  to  direct  the  Presbyteries 
of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  to  send  commission- 
ers to  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in 
the  United  States  of  America." 

Joe  H.  Fussell,  F.  A.  Brown, 

William  Clark,  J.  W.  Smith, 

R.  L.  Harper,  J.  B.  Sloan, 

J.  B.  Mitchell,  J.  G.  Anderson, 

J.  M.  Ashford,  W.  J.  Rogers, 

F.  M.  McKee,  G.  A.  Campbell, 

W.  A.  Hartrup,  J.  W.  Piper, 

Allen  Foust,  W.  H.  Randle, 

I.  V.  Stines,  A.  A.  Young, 

A.  FulkersoTi,  Joseph  Davis, 
H.  T.  Kelso,  W.  W.  Selvidge, 
J.  L.  Elliott,  C.  M.  Dysart, 
W.  E.  Shaw,  V.  B.  Costello, 

B.  D.  Porter,  J.  S.  Hamed, 
W.  R.  Slaughter,  G.  B.  McDonald, 
B.  T.  Price,  J.  L.  Hudgins, 

D.  J.  Moore,  R.  H.  Schooler, 
J.  B.  Wright,  W.  L.  Stewart, 

E.  B,  McEwen,  T.  W.  Keller, 
D.  M.  McAnulty,  S.  H.  Eshman, 
W.  W.  El-win,  J.  J.  McClellan, 
S.  S.  Boyer,  G.  M.  Smith, 
S.  T.  McCune,  J.  B.  Cawhom, 


48 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 


E.  G.  Stewart, 
R.  L.  Moore, 
J.  W.  Gorman, 
J.  E.  Edwards, 
J.  R.   Suite, 
W.  A.  Boone, 
W.  A.  Patterson, 

F.  A.  Seagle, 
L.  B.  Morgan, 
T.  J.  Jarrett, 

J.  P.  McDonald, 
R.  D.  Shook, 
W.  L.  Myeis, 
\V.  S.   Bridges, 
J.  N.  Trantham, 
J.  E.  Baggarly, 
R.  L,  Mason, 
J.  S.  Marshall, 
J.  A.  Poteet, 
Hillery  Copeland, 
W.  W.  Beall, 
B.  E.  Bowmer, 
W.  ]M.  Robinson, 
J.  W.  Reed, 
W.  E.  Dunaway, 
A.  N.  Eshman, 
L.  F.  Smith, 
M.  M.  Russell, 


N.  B.  Butlci, 
J.  W.  Scott, 
J.  L.  Joyner, 
J.  W.  Lee. 
E.  Worth, 
J.  N.  Bright, 
J.    D.    Lewis, 
J.  V.  Steele, 
T.  H.   Padgett, 
J.  J.   iMagness, 
N.  S.  Moore, 
R.  L.  Layman, 
W.  C.  Newberry, 
G.  W.  Thompson, 
Henry  J.  Bond, 
J.  R.  King, 
T.  A.  Havion, 
J.  M.  Hart, 
John  B.  Talley, 
T.  M.  Hendrix, 
J.  N.  Trimble, 
S.  W.  James, 
P.  B.  Keith, 
W.   E.   Dooley, 
Thomas  Potter, 
L.  A.  Lawi-ence, 
W.  M.  Wyatt, 
T.  H.  Porter. 


And  we,  the  loyal  commissioners  so  protesting,  consider- 
ing the  action  of  the  unionists  as  unauthorized,  determined 
not  to  recognize  as  of  binding  force  said  action  and  said 
adjournment.  Now  here  on  May  24,  1906,  being  a  quorum 
of  the  Assembly,  according  to  the  constitution  and  laws  of 
the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  we  continue  and  per- 
petuate the  General  Assembly  .  .  .  and  elect  Rev. 
J,  L.  Hudgins  Moderator  in  place  of  Rev.  Ira  Landrith,  and 
elect  Rev.  T.  H.  Padgett  Stated  Clerk  and  Ti-easurer  in  place 
of  Rev.  J.  M.  Hubbert,  their  offices  being  vacated  by  their 
action  above  recited. 

We  do  this  in  order  that  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church  may  maintain  its  separate  Church  organization,  and 
that  its  distinctive  doctrines  for  the  propagation  and  main- 
tenance of  which  we  and  our  fathers  have  labored  for  nearly 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  49 

a  century  shall  be  preserved  to  us  and  our  posterity  un- 
impaired. We  are  convinced  that  these  doctrines  would  not 
be  preserved  by  an  organization  which  refuses  to  take  them 
as  their  faith,  but  demands  their  renunciation  as  the  price 
of  entrance  to  their  fold.  Holding  these  views,  we  declare 
ourselves  to  be  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church,  the  repositoiy  of  its  established  faith, 
the  representatives  of  its  loyal  Presbyteries,  the  owners  of 
its  property,  and  the  directors  of  its  trusts. 

When  the  unionists  in  the  Assembly  voted  to  adjourn  sine 
die  as  a  separate  Assembly,  we,  the  loyal  commissioners, 
thereupon  repaired  to  the  hall  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic  in  the  same  city,  Decatur,  111.,  where  these  proceed- 
ings and  transactions  were  had.     (1906,  p.  8-11.) 


II.  THE  CHURCH. 


Confession  of  Faith,  Sections  93-95. — The  universal 
Church,  which  is  invisible,  consists  of  all  those  who  have 
become  children  of  God  by  faith,  and  joint-heirs  with 
Christ,  who  is  the  head  thereof. 

94.  The  visible  Church  consists  of  those  who  hold  to  the 
fundamental  doctrines  of  Christianity  in  respect  to  matters 
of  faith  and  morals,  and  have  entered  into  formal  covenant 
with  God  and  some  organized  body  of  Christians  for  the 
maintenance  of  religious  worship.  The  children  of  such  are 
included  in  the  covenant  relations  of  their  parents,  and 
are  properly  under  the  special  care  of  the  Church. 

95.  Unto  this  visible  Church  Christ  has  given  the  min- 
istry, the  Word,  and  the  ordinances,  for  its  edification,  and, 
by  his  own  presence  in  spirit,  makes  them  effectual  there- 
unto. The  Lord  Jesus  Christ  is  the  only  head  of  his  Church 
on  earth. 

Constitution,  Sections  1,  2.-^esus  Christ,  who  is  now 
exalted  far  above  all  principality  and  power,  has  established 
in  this  world  a  kingdom  which  is  his  Church. 

2.  The  universal  Church  consists  of  all  those  persons,  in 
every  nation,  who  make  profession  of  the  holy  religion  ot 
Christ  and  of  submission  to  his  laws. 

I.  THE  CUMBERLAND  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 

Confession  of  Faith,  Section  97.— While  it  is  required  of 
all  Christians  to  live  in  fellowship,  it  is  the  especial  duty  of 
those  belonging  to  the  same  denomination ;  and  also  to  co- 
operate in  sustaining  public  worship,  and  whatever  meas- 
ures are  adjudged  best  for  the  spiritual  interests  of  the 
Church  and  the  glory  of  God. 

The  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  does  not  set  up 
any  such  claim  as  that  of  its  being  the  only  Church,  but 


52  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

holds,  in  common  with  other  Reformed  or  Presbyterian 
bodies,  that  each  evangelical  denomination  is  a  branch  of 
the  Church. 

It  took  the  word  "Cumberland"  into  its  name  on  this 
wise :  The  Synod  of  Kentucky  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
in  1802,  struck  off  a  new  Presbytery  from  the  Presby- 
tery of  Transylvania,  which  had  included  "the  district  ot 
Kentucky  and  the  settlements  on  Cumberland  River,  ex- 
tending into  what  is  now  the  State  of  Tennessee."  This 
new  Presbytery,  which  was  "constituted  out  of  the  lower 
portion,"  including  the  "Cumberland  Country,"  the  Synod 
called  "the  Cumberland  Presbytery"  because  of  the  "Cum- 
berland Country"  included  within  its  bounds. 

"When  the  Church  was  organized  in  1810,  it  adopted  no 
denominational  name.  There  was  no  intention  then  of 
starting  a  new  Church,  It  was  an  independent  Presby- 
tery of  Presbyterians,  which  still  hoped  for  restoration  to 
its  old  status  in  the  Mother  Church." — From  History  of 
the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  McDonnold,  p.  114. 

The  Presbytery,  for  some  three  years,  referred  to  itself 
simply  as  "the  Cumberland  Presbytery." 

"Whereas,  enemies  to  the  Cumberland  Presbytery,  have 
reported  that  our  creed,  or  system  of  doctrines,  is  unknown ; 
and  whereas,  friendly  disposed  persons  have  been  appre- 
hensive that  some  sentiments  unknown  might  be  concealed 
under  the  term  'fatality,'  which  term  this  Presbytery  has 
chosen  as  a  proper  one  to  show  their  exception  to  the  Con- 
fession of  Faith ;  and  whereas,  we  deem  it  our  duty  explic- 
itly to  declare  our  views  on  that  subject, 

"Resolved,  therefore,  unanimously,  that  the  Cumberland 
Presbytery  views,  and  hereby  declares,  the  'Reply  to  the 
Pastoral  Letter  of  West  Tennessee  Presbytery'  to  contain 
a  just  exposition  of  our  exception  to  the  Confession  of 
Faith  upon  the  term  fatality,  and  as  fairly  deduced  from 
the  Confession  of  Faith,  so  far  as  doctrines  are  treated  of 
in  that  reply." — From  Minutes  of  Cumberland  Presbytery, 
November  5,  1812. 

"By  motion,  Messrs.  Finis  Ewing  and  Robert  Donnell 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  draft  a  complete,  though 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  53 

succinct  account  of  the  rise,  doctrines,  etc.,  of  the  Cumber- 
land Presbytery."— From  Minutes  of  Cumberland  Presby- 
tery, April  7,  1813. 

Some,  to  distinguish  those  adhering  to  the  independent 
Presbytery  from  other  Presbyterians,  at  first  called  them 
"members  of  the  Cumberland  Presbytery,"  as  will  appear 
from  the  following  resolution  adopted  by  a  Methodist  Con- 
ference, and  reported  to  the  Presbytery. 

"Resolved,  That  those  who  call  themselves  members  of 
the  Cumberland  Presbytery,  are  in  such  a  state  of  account- 
ability to  each  other,  as  will  authorize  us  to  admit  individ- 
uals of  that  body,  on  exam.ination,  to  the  Lord's  Supper  with 
us.  An  examJnation  we  deem  necessary  to  know  whether 
they  are  regular  members,  etc." — From  Minutes  of  Cum.- 
berland  Presbytery,  March  20,  1811. 

Others  called  the  adherents  of  the  new  Presbytery,  now 
identified  with  the  revival  party,  "Cumberland  Presbyte- 
rians." Dr.  McDonnold  says  that  the  name  which  the  peo- 
ple gave  was  neither  repudiated  nor  formally  adopted,  but 
that  it  clung  to  the  new  organization.  At  the  first  meeting 
of  the  Synod,  1813,  the  members  refer  to  those  in  the  inde- 
pendent movement  as  "Cumberland  Presbyterians,"  which 
will  be  seen  from  the  following : 

"The  Committee  appointed  by  the  last  general  Cumber- 
land Presbytery,  for  that  purpose,  reported  to  the  Synod 
a  succinct  account  of  the  rise,  doctrines,  and  progress  of 
the  Cumberland  Presbyterians,  etc." — From  Minutes  of 
Cumberland  Synod,  October  6,  1813. 

1.  The  Assembly  Refused  to  Change  the  Name. 

The  memorialists  pray  that  the  General  Assembly  would 
adopt  measures  in  order  to  a  change  of  name  from  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  to  American  Presbyterian.  In  relation  to 
this  subject  your  Committee  would  suggest  that  names 
generally  originate  with  others  rather  than  the  subjects  of 
them.    It  is  true  that  the  Fathers  in  the  organization  of 


54  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

the  first  Presbytery  of  this  Church,  styled  it  the  Cumber- 
land Pi^sbytery ;  but  this  was  rather  a  re-organization  than 
an  organization.  The  Presbytery  had  existed  before,  hav- 
ing been  constituted  and  named  by  another  judicature  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church;  therefore,  although  the  Assem- 
bly might  take  the  step  desired  by  the  memorialists,  and 
the  new  name  might  be  incorporated  into  our  Confession 
of  Faith  and  Form  of  Government,  and  into  the  records  of 
our  judicatories,  we  might  still  be  denominated  Cumberland 
Presbyterians  by  those  who  would  take  the  liberty  of  de- 
nominating us  what  they  pleased. 

Again:  names  are  mostly  arbitrary  and  accidental.  It 
is  difficult  to  make  them  significant.  They  are  for  the  pur- 
pose of  distinction.  The  origin  of  our  name  was  accidental ; 
still,  it  may  subserve  the  purpose  of  a  name.  It  will  dis- 
tinguish us  from  other  communions,  and  especially  from 
other  departments  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Further- 
more, whilst  the  senseless  and  the  silly  may  taunt  us  with 
the  locality  of  our  name — and  this  has  been  done — may  it 
not  occur  that  the  serious  and  intelligent,  whose  good  opin- 
ion, and  whose  only,  is  worth  the  possession,  may  despise  us 
for  any  sensitiveness  which  we  may  manifest  under  such 
reproaches  ?  Our  character  will  be  determined  by  our  intel- 
lectual and  moral  worth,  and  these  will  be  the  measure  of 
our  influence  also.  Let  us  seek  the  highest  attainments  in 
wisdom  and  holiness;  let  us  aim  at  the  fulfillment  of  our 
mission  as  an  humble  branch  of  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ, 
and  we  may  confidently  expect  all  embarrassments  and 
difficulties  from  secondary  considerations  to  be  removed, 
and  our  path,  like  the  path  of  the  just,  to  shine  more  and 
more  unto  the  perfect  day.  We  therefore  recommend  that 
the  prayer  of  the  memorialists  be  not  granted. — 1850,p.  37. 

We  have  before  us  a  memorial  from  Rushville  Presby- 
tery, giving  four  reasons  why  our  denominational  name 
should  be  changed,  and  asking  the  General  Assembly  to 
take  steps  to  that  end. 

Your  Committeee  is  of  the  opinion  that  such  change  is 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  55 

impracticable,  not  to  say  undesirable.  Adopted. — 1880,  p. 
20. 

We  have  carefully  considered  the  papers  referred  to  us 
calling  for  a  change  of  our  Church  name,  substituting  some 
other  word  in  the  place  of  Cumberland. 

These  papers  are  from  the  following  Presbyteries,  viz., 
Nashville,  Athens,  California,  Indiana,  and  Wabash. 

The  first  two  call  for  the  name  American  Presbyterian. 

California  Presbytery  calls  for  the  name  Presbyterian 
Church  of  America. 

Indiana  Presbytery  calls  for  the  name  Evangelical  Pres- 
byterian. 

Various  reasons  are  assigned  for  these  changes.  These 
your  Committee  have  duly  considered,  but  do  not  regard 
them  of  sufficient  importance  to  justify  a  change  of  name, 
or  even  to  have  the  question  submitted  to  the  Presbyteries. 

We,  therefore,  are  unanimous  in  the  opinion  that  our 
Church  name  should  remain  as  it  is,  and  for  the  following 
reasons : 

1.  The  name  Cumberland  is  too  precious  to  the  hearts  of 
our  people  to  be  given  up. 

2.  It  is  evident  already  from  the  many  names  suggested 
that  it  would  be  very  difficult,  if  not  impossible,  to  unite  on 
any  other. 

3.  A  change  of  name  would  make  a  double  explanation 
necessary  instead  of  one  that  is  easy  and  significant. 

4.  It  would  necessarily  involve  a  change  in  the  names  of 
our  schools,  charters,  boards,  papers,  books,  etc. 

5.  There  are  serious  objections  to  each  one  of  the  names 
proposed. 

6.  The  name  Cumberland  has  already  become  sacred  in 
the  hearts  of  our  people  and  a  representative  of  our  doc- 
trines. 

7.  We  would  still  be  called  Cumberland  Presbyterians, 
hence  much  confusion  and  dissatisfaction  would  be  the  re- 
sult. 

8.  We  do  not  see  that  any  important  ends  could  be  gained 
by  a  change. 

We,  therefore,    recommend    that  the  whole    subject  be 


56  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

dropped  without  any  further  discussion.     Adopted. — 1881, 
p.  13. 

We  have  before  us  memorials  from  the  Arkansas  Synod 
and  the  Yazoo  Presbytery,  asking  your  reverend  body  not 
to  submit  to  the  Presbyteries  a  proposition  to  change  tne 
name  of  the  Church,  and  that  the  agitation  of  that  subject 
cease.  We  recommend  that  the  request  of  the  petitioners  be 
granted.    Adopted. — 1894,  p.  18. 

2.    The  Anniversary  of  the  Church. 

Whereas,  The  Fourth  day  of  February  is  a  period  of  the 
year  of  deep  and  important  interest  to  all  Cumberland  Pi^s- 
byterians,  it  being  the  day  on  which,  as  a  denomination, 
they  came  into  existence;  and,  whereas,  the  observance  of 
anniversaries  has,  on  the  part  of  various  communities  and 
associated  bodies,  produced  an  increase  of  interest  and  an 
enlargement  of  feeling  and  consequent  operations : 

Resolved :  That  henceforth,  the  fourth  day  of  Februaiy  be 
regarded  as  the  Anniversary  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyte- 
rian Church;  that  all  our  ministers  and  people  be  recom- 
mended to  observe  that  time,  from  year  to  year,  as  a  day 
of  thanksgiving,  a  day  of  prayer  and  supplication  to  Al- 
mighty God,  that  he  may  continue  his  gracious  and  heav- 
enly benedictions  with  us  as  a  branch  of  his  Church;  that 
he  may  continue,  by  his  soverign  calls,  and  gracious  in- 
fluence, to  increase  the  number  of  ministers  stationed  on 
the  walls  of  Zion,  and  that  by  divine  unctions  of  the  Holy 
Ghost  accompanying  the  Gospel  it  may  be  effectual  to  ac- 
complish the  great  purpose  for  which  it  has  been  sent  into 
the  world.    Adopted. — 1855,  p.  35. 

3.  The  Centennial  of  the  Church. 

Resolved,  That  this  General  Assembly  appoint  two  Com- 
mittees of  arrangements  for  the  next  meeting  of  this  body 
to  be  held  at  Dickson,  Tenn.,  May  1910.  Hereby  is  sus- 
pended all  standing  orders  that  may  conflict  with  these 
Committees. 

A  Committee  on  arrangements  of  the  place,  entertain- 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  57 

ment  and  all  material  belongings,  said  committee  to  con- 
sist of  R.  L.  Baskette,  W.  L.  Danley  and  J.  H.  Zarecor. 

Also  a  Committee  to  arrange  a  program  suited  to  the 
Centennial  occasion  of  said  meeting;  this  committee  to  con- 
sist of  the  Moderator,  Stated  Clerk,  the  Pastor  Host,  and 
T.  Ashburn,  J.  H.  Fussell  and  J.  D.  Lewis. 

Special  Standing  Committees  for  Centennial  Year. 

These  Committees  to  secure  special  prepared  papers  on 
the  following  subjects: 

History  of  Missions,  History  of  Education,  History  of 
Publication,  History  of  Ministerial  Relief,  and  History  of 
Sunday  School  and  Young  People's  Work. 

Preparation  of  a  Memorial  Service  in  honor  of  Ewing, 
King  and  McAdow. 

Missions— A.  C.  Biddle,  J.  L.  Price,  M.  M.  Smith. 

Education — P.  F.  Johnson,  J.  L.  Hudgins,  J.  N.  Parker. 

Publication — R.  L.  Baskette,  A.  N.  Eshman,  W.  E.  Dun- 
away. 

Ministerial  Relief— J.  M.  Wyckoff,  J.  B.  Hadlock,  Wm. 
Reister. 

Sunday  School  and  Young  People's  Work — T.  Ashburn, 
F.  A.  Seagle,  0.  A.  Barbee. 

Memorial  Service  in  Honor  of  Ewing,  King  and  McAdow 
—J.  W.  Duvall,  Hardy  Copeland,  S.  C.  Lockett.— 1909,  p.  90. 

On  motion,  the  Moderator  appointed  a  committee  ot 
three,  the  Stated  Clerk  to  be  a  member,  to  gather  the  his- 
torical papers  of  this  Assembly  together  with  other  pa- 
pers of  interest  and  publish  them  in  book  form.  The  fol- 
lowing were  appointed  on  this  committee:  Dr.  J.  L.  Good- 
knight,  Hon.  J.  J.  McClellan  and  Rev.  T.  Ashburn. —  (1910, 
p.  36.) 

And  in  the  volume  which  issued,  entitled.  Centennial 
Sermons  and  Papers,  a  book  of  two  hundred  and  ninety 
pages,  are  the  following  numbers  in  order:  Moderator's 
sermon.  Rev.  J.  T.  Barbee;  Presbyterianism  defined,  J.  L. 
Goodknight,    D.D.,  LL.D.;  a  discourse  on  the  Origin    and 


68  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

Doctrines  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  Rev. 
A.  C.  Biddle;  Tenting  on  the  Old"  Camp  Ground,  Rev.  J.  S. 
Hall ;  Some  Things  the  Bible  Teaches  about  the  Holy  Spirit, 
Rev.  J.  W.  Duvall ;  Paul's  Estimate  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
H.  Clay  Yates,  D.  D.;  Our  Needs  and  Our  Ability  to  Meet 
Them,  Rev.  J.  D.  Lewis;  The  Keys  of  the  Kingdom,  Mrs. 
Bessie  Copeland  Morris;  The  Immortal  Trio  (Ewing,  King, 
and  McAdow),  Rev.  J.  W.  Duvall;  Historical  Review  of 
Publication  in  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  R.  L. 
Baskette ;  History  of  the  Board  of  Ministerial  Relief  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  J.  M.  Wyckoff.  History 
of  Sunday  Schools  and  Young  People's  Work  of  the  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  Church,  Rev.  Thompson  Ashburn ;  His- 
tory cf  the  Woman's  Board  of  Missions,  Mrs.  Walter  Craw- 
ford; and  Spiritual  Progress,  Rev.  J.  L.  Hudgins  and  Rev. 
T.  C.  Newman. 

n.  A  PARTICULAR  CHURCH. 

In  the  Church  courts  the  appellation  "congregation"  is 
generally  used  for  that  of  "particular  church."  Sometimes, 
however,  the  word  "church"  is  found  without  the  word 
"particular." 

Constitution,  Section  4. — A  particular  church  consists 
of  a  number  of  professing  Christians  voluntarily  associated 
together  for  divine  worship  and  godly  living,  agreeably  to 
the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  submitting  to  a  certain  form  of 
government. 

Its  officers  are  the  minister  in  charge,  the  ruling  elders 
and  the  deacons. 

Its  jurisdiction  is  lodged  in  the  church  session,  composed 
of  the  minister  in  charge  and  ruling  elders. 

1.  Organizing  a  New  Church. 

Constitution,  Section  16. — In  all  cases,  -except  when  a 
Commission  for  that  purpose  shall  have  been  appointed  by 
the  Presbytery,  any  ordained  minister,  belonging  to  the 
Presbytery  in  the  bounds  of  which  the  new  church  is  to  be 
located,  may  preside  at  the  organization  of  such  church, 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  59 

and  perform  all  the  duties  incident  thereto;  but  in  such 
case  the  new  church  shall  not  be  located  within  five  miles  of 
an  existing  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  without  the 
consent  of  Presbytery. 

Constitution,  Section  7. — In  the  organization  of  a  church 
the  first  step  is  to  receive  testimonials  on  behalf  of  such  of 
the  applicants  as  are  members  of  the  church,  if  there  be 
any ;  and  then  to  admit  upon  a  profession  of  faith  in  Christ 
such  candidates  as,  on  examination,  may  be  found  quali- 
fied. 

These  persons  should,  in  the  next  place,  be  required  to 
enter  into  covenant  by  answering  the  following  question 
affirmatively:  Do  you,  in  reliance  on  God  for  strength,  sol- 
emnly promise  and  covenant  that  you  will  walk  together  as 
an  organized  church  on  the  principles  of  the  Government 
of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church ;  that  you  will  sup- 
port the  Gospel  as  God  has  prospered  you,  and  that  you  will 
study  the  purity  and  harmony  of  the  whole  body? 

The  presiding  minister  shall  then  say:  I  now  pronounce 
and  declare  that  you  are  constituted  a  church  according  to 
the  Word  of  God  and  the  principles  of  the  Government  of 
the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  subject  to  the  ap- 
proval of  the  Presbytery.  In  the  name  of  the  Father,  and 
of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Spirit.    Amen. 

Ruling  elders  and  deacons  are  then  to  be  elected,  or- 
dained, and  installed. 

2.    When  Organizations  are  Forbidden. 

Within  five  miles  of  a  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. 
— See  Constitution,  Section  16. 

A  minister,  either  within  or  without  his  Presbytery,  has 
no  right  to  attempt  to  organize  a  congregation  of  disaf- 
fected members,  and  thereby  divide  and  disturb  congrega- 
tions already  organized.    Adopted. — 1860,  p.  74. 

"Is  it  proper  and  orderly  for  a  Presbytery  to  recognize, 
and  receive  under  its  care,  an  association  of  persons  who 
have  been  collected  by  the  efforts  of  a  minister  of  the  Gos- 


60  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

pel,  who  is,  and  was  at  the  time  of  gathering  them  to- 
gether, under  suspension?" 

Your  Committee  answers  in  the  negative.  Adopted. — 
1859,  p.  20. 

3.    Becoming  a  Constituent  of  Presbytery. 

General  Regulations,  Section  3. — When  a  new  church  is 
organized  it  shall,  through  its  church  session,  apply  to  the 
Presbytery  in  the  bounds  of  which  it  is  located  to  become  a 
constituent  thereof,  in  the  following  or  like  form: 
To  the  Presbytery  of 

The  undersigned  respectfully  represent,  that  on  the  .... 

day  of ,  A.  D., ,  there  was  organized  by 

Rev (or  by  a  Commission  of  Presbytery,  as  the 

case  may  be) ,  at ,  a  new  church,  adopting  the 

principles  of  the  Government  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyte- 
rian Church,  with  a  membership  of  .  .  .  . ,  and  electing  the 
undersigned  as  ruling  elders,  and  ....  and  ....  as  deacons. 

Under  and  by  authority  of  said  church,  we  do  hereby  ap- 
ply to  be  received  under  your  care,  and  we  promise  a 
cheerful  compliance  on  its  part,  as  well  as  our  own,  with  all 
the  duties  and  obligations  enjoined  upon  particular  churches 
and  their  officers  by  the  Government  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church. 


(Date)   Ruling  Elders. 

4.    When  May  a  Church  be  Represented  in  Presbytery? 

Constitution,  S-ection  29, — Every  particular  church  which 
is  willing  to  support  the  Gospel  as  God  has  prospered  it 
shall  be  entitled  to  be  represented  by  a  ruling  elder  in  Pres- 
bytery. 

Your  Comittee  on  Minutes  of  the  Synod  of  Pennsylvania 
report  that  we  have  examined  the  same,  and  find  them  well 
arranged,  in  good  order,  and  in  the  main  in  accordance  with 
your  Constitution. 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  61 

On  page  eighteen  we  find  what  we  consider  a  departure 
from  the  teaching  of  your  Book,  page  89,  viz : 

That  where  two  or  more  congregations  are  confederated 
together  under  the  care  of  one  minister,  as  pastor  or  supply, 
their  right  to  representation,  in  their  individual  capacity,  is 
conceded  to  the  confederation,  and  while  thus  united  are 
entitled  to  but  one  representative. 

1.  We  think  this  action  of  the  Synod  tends  to  an  unequal 
distribution  of  power  among  the  churches,  allowing  the  pas- 
tor of  one  church  equal  power  with  the  pastor  of  two  or 
more  churches. 

2.  We  do  not  believe  an  elder  can  represent  a  congrega- 
tion in  Synod,  of  whose  Board  of  Elders  he  is  not  a  member. 
Adopted.— 1887,  p.  21. 

5.     Congregational  Boundaries. 

The  White  River  Presbytery  asks:  1.  Has  a  Presbytery 
the  power  and  right  to  abolish  congregational  lines  within 
its  bounds,  when  in  its  wisdom  it  may  consider  such  action 
conducive  to  the  well-being  of  the  Church? 

Answer:  The  Constitution  of  the  Church  does  not  give 
the  Presbytery  the  power  to  interfere  with  congregational 
lines. 

2.  Has  a  Presbytery  the  right  to  re-establish  those  lines 
when  said  action  involves  the  rights  and  interests  of  con- 
gregations organized  within  the  lines  originally  established 
for  older  organizations  ? 

Answer:  Our  Form  of  Government  does  not  recognize 
congregational  lines  or  boundaries.  The  Presbytery  can 
have  no  right  either  to  establish  or  abolish  such  lines. 

3.  When  a  congregation  petitions  a  Presbytery  to  be  rg- 
ceFed  under  its  care,  with  certain  boundary  lines,  and  the 
Presbytery  receives  it  with  this  agreement,  can  "che  Pres- 
bytery abolish  such  lines  without  the  consent  of  such  con- 
gregation ? 

Answer:  For  the  reasons  above  stated,  your  Committee 
agrees  that  you  should  answer  in  the  negative.  Adoptcf!. — 
1879,  p.  21. 


62  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

6.  Who  Are  Non-Resident  Members? 

We  have  considered  the  memorial  from  New  Hope  Pi^s- 
bytery  in  which  this  General  Assembly  is  asked  to  define 
the  terms  "Resident"  and  "Non-resident"  members.  We 
recommend,  that  the  General  Assembly  answer  that  the 
term  "Resident  member"  has  reference  to  members  who  live 
reasonably  near  the  church  to  which  they  belong,  while  the 
term  "Non-resident  member"  refers  to  members  who  re- 
side so  far  distant  from  the  church  in  which  they  hold 
membership  as  to  prevent  their  being  regular  attendants. — 
1916,  p.  111. 

7.     Presbytery  Cannot   Dissolve  a  Congregation  Without 

its  Consent. 

Constitution,  Section  31. — The  Presbytery  has  power  to 
unite  or  divide  churches,  with  the  consent  of  a  majority  of 
the  members  thereof. 

A  Presbytery  has  a  right  to  dissolve  a  congi*egation,  with 
the  consent  of  its  members,  and  attach  them  to  other  con- 
gregations.   Adopted. — 1869,  p.  34. 

The  Tehuacana  Presbytery  asks  you  to  decide  whether 
a  Presbytery  has  the  right  to  dissolve  a  congregation  with- 
out its  consent,  when  deemed  proper  by  the  Presbytery 
to  do  so. 

In  response  to  this  inquiry,  your  Committee  answers, 
that  the  General  Assembly  of  1869  [Minutes,  p.  34]  an- 
swered this  question  in  the  negative,  and  recommends  that 
you  reaffirm  that  action.    Adopted." — 1879,  p.  21. 

8.    When  May  a  Presbytery  Cut  off  a  Congregation? 

Constitution,  Section  31. — The  Presbytery  has  the  power, 
for  cause,  to  dissolve  the  relations  between  it  and  a  par- 
ticular church,  which  shall  thereafter  cease  to  be  a  con- 
stituent of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  and  for- 
feits all  rights  as  such. 

The  Presbytery  has  the  right  to  cut  off  any  congregation 
under  its  control,  and  deprive  it  of  presbyterial  representa- 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  63 

tion,  whenever  such  congi'egation  has  been  guilty  of  such 
offense  as,  in  the  judgment  of  the  Presbytery,  may  justify 
such  action.    Adopted. — 1869,  p.  34. 


9.     Presbyteries  Should  Order  Whatever  Pertains  to  the 
Welfare  of  their  Churches. 

Constitution,  Section  31. — The  Presbytery  has  power  in 
general  to  order  whatever  pertains  to  the  spiritual  wel- 
fare of  the  churches  under  its  care. 

Upon  the  Presbyteries  was  urged  the  importance  of  or- 
dering whatever  pertains  to  the  welfare  of  their  churches. 
—1882,  p.  17. 

10.    Relation  of  Board  of  Missions  to  a  Mission  Church. 

The  Committee  on  Judiciary  have  considered  a  paper 
from  Kansas  Presbytery  asking  the  General  Assembly  to 
define  the  relation  and  power  of  the  General  Assembly's 
Board  of  Missions  to  a  congregation  under  the  care  of  Pres- 
bytery. 

Under  Section  13,  "General  Regulations,"  the  General  As- 
sembly has  the  power,  and  it  is  perhaps  its  duty,  to  answer 
such  questions  when  properly  brought  before  it  bv  an  in- 
ferior court  of  the  Church. 

We  therefore  recommend  that  the  General  Assembly  an- 
swer as  follows: 

Mission  churches  not  under  the  care  of  any  particular 
Presbytery  are,  in  all  respects,  managed  and  controlled  by 
the  Board  of  Missions.  When  a  mission  church  is  placed 
under  the  control  of  a  Presbytery  and  becomes  a  constituent 
thereof,  then  as  to  all  questions  of  discipline  the  Presby- 
tery has  control,  but  as  to  the  supplying  of  the  pulpit  the 
Board  of  Missions  should  control  as  long  as  it  remains  a 
mission  church,  receiving  financial  assistance  from  the 
Board.  In  all  cases,  however,  care  should  be  taken  that  no 
friction  arises  between  the  Board  and  the  Presbytery. 
Adopted.— 1893,  p.  28. 


64  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

11.  General  Assembly  Determined  the  Legitimate  Congre- 
gation. 

The  undersigned,  members  of  Ohio  Synod,  have  positive 
information  that,  owing  to  dissensions  in  the  Waterford 
congregation  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  at 
Beverly,  Ohio,  in  the  bounds  of  Muskingum  Presbytery, 
and  owing  to  the  failure  of  said  Presbytery  to  meet  on  its 
adjournment,  and  to  the  improbability  of  its  being  able  to 
call  a  quorum,  important  church  interests  in  said  congre- 
gation to  withhold  the  church  property  from  the  use  and 
control  of  Cumberland  Presbyterians,  and  to  transfer  it  to 
the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Therefore,  we  respectfully  memorialize  your  Reverend 
Body  to  recognize  that  portion  of  said  Waterford  congrega- 
tion represented  by  David  Thompson,  Allen  Nickerson,  and 
Thomas  Clark,  ruling  eders,  and  H.  S.  Cark,  J.  T.  Palmer 
and  Samuel  Leget,  trustees,  as  the  identical  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  church,  of  Waterford,  and  that  as  such  they 
are  entitled  to  hold  the  church  property,  at  Beverly,  belong- 
ing to  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. 

Signed : 
Thomas  Thomas, 
Ovid  Lutz, 
H.  D.  Onyett. 

Your  Committee  recommend  that  said  memorial  be 
granted,  and  that  the  organization  represented  by  David 
Thompson,  Allen  Nickerson  and  Thomas  Clark,  ruling  el- 
ders, and  H.  S.  Clark,  J.  T.  Palmer  and  Samuel  Leget,  trus- 
tees, mentioned  in  said  memorial,  be  and  is  hereby  recog- 
nized by  this  General  Assembly  as  the  true  and  legitimate 
Waterford  congregation  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church,  at  Beverly,  Ohio,  and  entitled  to  hold  all  the  church 
property  hitherto  owned  and  held  in 'law  by  said  Waterford 
congregation,  at  Beverly,  Ohio.    Adopted. — 1872,  p.  28. 

12.  Form  of  Deed. 

The  following  is  recommended  as  a  form  of  deed  for  the 
conveyance  of  real  estate  to  a  Cumberland  Presbyterian 


^JEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  65 

church.  Before  the  deed  is  finally  drawn,  it  should  be  sub- 
mitted to  some  local  attorney  to  see  that  it  conforms  to  the 
mode  of  conveyance  prescribed  in  the  particular  State  in 
which  the  property  lies: 

WE 

in  consideration  of ( $ ) 

Dollars  to  us  in  hand,  by 

the  receipt  whereof  is  hereby  acknowledged,  have  this  day  bargained 

and  sold  and  do  hereby  sell,  transfer  and  convey  unto 

trustees,  of  and  for 

congregation   of  the    Cumberland  Presbyterian  church, 

their  successors  and  assigns,  the  hereinafter  named  tract,  piece  or 

parcel  of  land  situated  in 

Civil    District    of County 

and  particularly  described  as  follows: 

Beginning  at 

To  be  held,  preserved  and  used  by  themselves,  their  successors  and 
assigns  for  a  church  site  (or  church  and  parsonage;  one  or  both)  to 
be  used  for  carrying  on  the  worship  of  Almighty  God,  according  to 
the  tenets,  faith  and  order  of  said  Church,  and  for  the  promulgation 
of  the  doctrines  thereof,  as  formulated  and  published  in  the  Confes- 
sion of  Faith  of  said  Church,  adopted  in  the  year  1883,  and  to  be 
used  forever  for  said  purpose,  or  if  converted,  proceeds  thereof  rein- 
vested in  similar  property  for  the  use  of  such  church.  We  further 
covenant  and  agree  that  said  property  is  fi'ee  from  encumbrance, 
and  that  we  have  a  good  and  la\\rful  right  to  sell  and  convey  the 
same  and  will  warrant  and  forever  defend  the  title  of  said  property 
to  said  ti-ustees  and  church,  against  the  lawful  claims  of  all  per- 
sons whomsoever. 

IN   WITNESS   WHEREOF,   we  hereunto   set   our  hands  and   sig- 
natures,  this   19 


WITNESS: 


Note:  A  deed  must,  after  signature,  be  acknowledged  according  to 
the  form  prescribed  by  the  laws  of  the  State  in  which  the  property 
lies.  The  acknowledgment  should  be  made  before  such  officer  as  is 
authorized  by  such  State  statutes  for  taking  acknowledgments,  in  the 
County  and  State  where  the  persons  reside,  who  make  the  deed.  The 
deed  should  then  be  fonv-arded  to  the  County  and  State  where  the 


66  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

land  lies,  to  be  at  once  recorded  in  the  register's  office  of  said  County. 
The  deed  can  be  witnessed  by  two  disinterested  pei-sons,  if  the  deed 
is  made  alone  by  men,  and  the  execution  of  the  deed  can  then  be 
proven,  before  the  proper  authority,  by  the  witnesses.  If  the  deed  is 
made  by  a  man  and  a  married  woman,  the  execution  of  such  deed 
cannot  be  proven  by  subscribing  witnesses.  The  married  woman  must 
acknowledge  the  execution  of  the  deed  in  person,  as  prescribed  by  the 
statute  of  the  State  where  the  land  lies,  which  is  conveyed;  and,  if 
possible,  the  man's  signature  should  be  acknowledged  at  the  same 
time  anl  place.  If  the  man  be  too  decrepit  to  appear  and  acknowl- 
edge the  deed,  his  signature  may  be  proved  by  witness. — Adopted 
1912,  pp.  118,  119. 

13.  Title  to  Church  Property. 

"When  a  congregation  has  been  legally  organized,  and  by 
its  legally  constituted  board  of  trustees  purchases  and  ob- 
tains real  estate  in  fee  simple,  upon  which  to  erect  a  church 
house,  and  afterwards  said  congregation,  together  with  its 
board  of  trustees,  by  death  or  removal,  ceases  to  exist,  does 
such  real  estate  then  become  the  property  of  the  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  Church  at  large?  If  so,  where  does  the 
power  to  sell  and  convey  such  property  exist?" 

This  is  a  purely  legal  question,  which  must  be  decided  by 
the  courts  of  each  State  in  which  the  property  may  be  sit- 
uated, and  although  a  probably  correct  answer  might  be 
premised  upon  the  principles  of  the  common  law,  yet  it 
would  be  wiser  and  safer  in  all  questions,  concerning  the 
title  to  church  property,  to  apply  to  the  temporal  rather 
than  the  spiritual  courts. 

The  Assembly  said,  further  [Minutes,  page  24],  that  "the 
title  to  the  property  depends  upon  the  specific  terms  of  the 
instrument  creating  it,  and  the  statutory  regulations  of  the 
State  of  the  Union  where  the  property  may  be  situated,  and 
the  same  general  answer  applies  to  the  vesting  and  trans- 
fer of  title  in  all  cases."    Adopted.— 1868,  p.  23. 

A  question  is  raised  by  the  records  before  us  in  regard  to 
the  legal  owners  of  the  church  house  and  grounds.  It  ap- 
pears that  the  title  is  vested  in  trustees,  and  it  is  supposed 
that  ihey  claim  the  right  to  control  the  use  and  occupation 
of  the  church  house. 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  67 

Your  Committee  deem  it  due  to  the  church  whose  inter- 
est is  involved  in  this  question,  to  express  an  opinion  on 
this  subject,  in  order  that  the  General  Assembly  may  make 
a  deliverance  which  may  be  calculated  to  quiet  apprehen- 
sions on  the  part  of  weak  churches  when  threatened  in  this 
way. 

We  give  it  as  our  opinion,  that  trustees  holding  the  title 
to  church  property  cannot  turn  it  over,  or  appropriate  it  to 
any  other  use  than  that  for  which  it  was  vested  in  them, 
and  that  they  cannot  exclude  the  church  from  its  use  and 
occupation  for  religious  worship. 

Your  Committee  are  not  acquainted  with  the  laws  of 
Kentucky  on  this  subject,  but  their  opinion  is  based  on  gen- 
eral principles.  It  is  greatly  to  be  regretted,  and  is  a  source 
of  sorrow,  no  doubt,  to  the  Christian,  and  especially  to  our 
branch  of  the  Church,  that  such  serious  difficulties  as  these 
records  show,  should  spring  up  among  professed  Christians, 
upon  so  slight  a  cause. 

Your  Committee  recommend  patience,  and  forbearance, 
and  faithful  service,  and  devotion  to  principle,  and  reliance 
on  the  Spirit  of  Almighty  God,  to  bring  the  Madisonville 
Church  out  of  difficulties  which  seem  to  environ  it  at  this 
time.    Adopted.— 1876,  p.  30. 

The  Committee  on  Judiciary  have  considered  the  paper 
referred  to  them  from  Rev.  N.  J,  Crawford,  in  relation  to 
the  title  to  church  property  in  the  Indian  Territory,  and 
recommend  the  adoption  of  the  following  resolution : 

Resolved,  That  the  General  Assembly's  Board  of  Trustees 
be,  and  they  are  hereby,  requested  to  look  after  the  proper- 
ty in  the  Indian  Territory  belonging  to  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church,  or  in  which  it  has  an  interest,  and  to 
take  such  action  as  may  seem  best  to  preserve  the  same  to 
the  Church  and  for  its  use.    Adopted. — 1893,  p.  28. 

14.  Assembly  Directs  a  Sale. 

It  being  made  to  appear  to  your  committee  that  on  March 
21,  1895,  Samuel  P.  Blair  and  his  wife,  M.  L.  Blair,  conveyed 
to  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 


68  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

Church  "the  upper,  or  north  half,  of  a  certain  lot  or  parcel 
of  land,  lying  and  being  in  the  town  of  Mouse  Creek"  (Now 
Niota)  "in  the  4th  Civil  District  of  McMinn  County,  Tennes- 
see, bounded  as  follows:  On  the  north  by  an  alley;  on  the 
east  by  the  lands  of  H.  L.  Shultz;  on  the  south  by  the 
lands  of  Frank  Sherman,  and  on  the  west  by  the  lands  of 
the  Southern  Railway  Company,  together  with  the  church 
erected  thereon;"  and  it  further  appearing  that  the  prop- 
erty, by  lack  of  use  and  care,  is  badly  out  of  repair  and  de- 
teriorated in  value;  and  it  being  further  represented  to  us 
that  the  congregation  which  formerly  worshipped  in  this 
property  has  all  scattered  and  moved  away;  and  it  further 
appearing  that  there  is  a  congregation  of  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church  in  said  village  or  town,  who  desire  to  purchase 
said  property,  and  have  offered  therefor  the  sum  of  Six 
Hundred  and  Fifty  ($650.00)  Dollars,  which  sum  we  are 
advised  by  the  Knoxville  Presbytery  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church  should  be  accepted  and  deed  made ; 

Therefore,  your  Committee  is  of  opinion  that  this  matter 
be  refered  to  Dr.  T.  W.  Stone,  E.  W.  Beck,  H.  H.  Den- 
hardt,  C.  W.  Stone,  J.  W.  Goodrum,  Dr.  J.  F.  Hendricks,  W.  J. 
Denhardt,  Judge  Charles  Drake,  M.  R.  Graham,  L.  J.  Miller, 
Thomas  F.  Lewis,  Joe  D.  Smith,  Trustees  of  the  General  As- 
sembly of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  and  we  rec- 
ommend that  said  Trustees  will  take  such  action  that  will 
consummate  such  agreement  above  referred  to  and  exe- 
cute a  warranty  deed  conveying  said  property  according  to 
agreement  above  mentioned.  That  said  deed  be  properly 
acknowledged  and  spread  on  the  records  in  the  i^gister's 
office  of  McMinn  County,  Tennessee,  and  that  the  purchase 
money  thereof  be  turned  over  to  the  Treasurer  of  Knoxville 
Presbytery,  taking  his  receipt  for  same  and  that  said  Board 
of  Trustees  will  report  their  action  in  the  premises  to  the 
next  General  Assembly. 

And  in  the  matter  regarding  the  warranty  deed  given  by 
H.  W.  Fick  and  wife,  Harrison,  Ark.,  to  the  Board  of  Trus- 
tees of  the  General  Assembly,  we  your  Committee  recom- 
mend that  this  matter  be  referred  to  the  Trustees  of  the 
General  Assembly  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church, 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  69 

and  we  recommend  that  they  take  such  action  in  the  prem- 
ises as  they  may  deem  proper  to  carry  out  if  possible  the 
purposes  of  those  directly  interested.  Adopted. — 1912,  pp. 
121,  122.     (1900,  p.  90.) 

15.  Rightful  Ownership. 

Resolved,  that  it  is  the  sense  of  this  Assembly  that  the 
rightful  ownership  of  and  title  to  Church  property  belonging 
to  a  disorganized  congregation,  or  of  abandoned  church 
property  is  and  should  be  in  the  Presbytery  in  whose 
bounds  it  is  located,  provided  there  are  no  provisions  in 
the  deed  of  conveyance  directing  what  shall  become  of  the 
property  when  it  ceases  to  be  used  for  church  purposes. — 
1909,  p.  80. 

16.  Bequests  and  Gifts. 

All  bequests  and  gifts  of  either  property  or  lands  should 
be  made  to  the  Trustees  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  if  intended  for  the  entire 
Church,  or  if  intended  for  some  one  of  the  various  Boards, 
then  to  the  Trustees  of  that  Board. — 1912,  p.  120. 

III.  CHURCH  MEMBERS. 

Constitution,  Section  4. — A  particular  church  consists  of 
a  number  of  professing  Christians  voluntarily  associated  to- 
gether for  Divine  worship  and  godly  living,  agreeably  to  the 
Holy  Scriptures,  and  submitting  to  a  certain  form  of  gov- 
ernment. 

Constitution,  Section  3. — The  infant  children  of  believers 
are,  through  the  covenant  and  by  right  of  birth,  entitled 
to  baptism,  to  pastoral  oversight,  to  instruction,  and  to  the 
care  of  the  church,  with  a  view  to  their  embracing  Christ, 
and  thus  possessing  personally  all  the  benefits  of  the  cove- 
nant. 

All  baptized  persons  should  receive  the  watchful  care  and 
instruction  of  the  church,  even  though  they  are  adults,  and 
have  made  no  profession  of  faith  in  Christ.    Those  only  who 


70  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

have  made  a  profession  of  faith  in  Christ  are  entitled  to  all 
the  rights  and  privileges  of  the  church. 

1.  Admission  of  Persons  into  the  Church. 

Constitution,  Section  27. — It  is  the  duty  of  the  session  to 
receive  members  into  the  church. 

Directory  for  Worship,  Section  21. — In  publicly  receiving 
new  members  into  the  church  on  profession  of  their  faith 
in  Christ,  the  following  is  recommended  as  a 

Form  of  Church  Covenant 

Let  the  candidates  for  membership  rise,  and  the  min- 
ister propound  to  them,  severally,  the  following  questions, 
to  be  answered  in  the  affirmative : 

I.  Do  you  receive  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  the  New 
Testament  as  the  Word  of  God,  the  only  infallible  rule  ot 
faith  and  practice  ? 

II.  Have  you  experienced  that  you  were  a  condemned  and 
helpless  sinner,  and,  so  far  as  you  know  your  own  heart, 
have  you  believed  in  Christ  as  an  all-sufficient  Saviour,  re- 
alizing that  God,  for  Christ's  sake,  has  pardoned  your  sins  ? 

III.  Will  you  earnestly  strive  to  avoid  the  follies  and  vices 
of  the  world,  to  increase  in  knowledge,  to  grow  in  grace, 
and  to  live  henceforth  for  Christ? 

IV.  Do  you  promise  to  abide  by  and  support  the  rules  and 
regulations  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  so  long 
as  you  may  be  a  member  thereof ;  to  be  faithful  in  your  at- 
tendance at  the  public  religious  services  in  the  congrega- 
tion, including  the  prayer  meetings,  as  God  may  give  you 
health  and  strength,  endeavoring  to  keep  the  unity  of  the 
Spirit  in  the  bond  of  peace;  to  love  your  brethren  in  the 
Lord;  to  act  toward  them  with  kindness  and  justice;  to 
judge  with  candor,  and  admonish  with  charity? 

V.  As  you  consecrate  yourself  to  God,  you  also  conse- 
crate your  substance ;  and  being  his  steward,  do  you  prom- 
ise to  contribute  of  that  substance,  as  he  may  prosper  you, 
to  the  support  of  the  Gospel  ? 

After  answering  these  questions  in  the  affirmative,  the 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  71 

applicants  for  membership  should  be  baptized,  unless  they 
have  previously  received  that  sacrament;  and  the  minister 
should  deliver  a  charge,  suitable  to  the  occasion,  to  the 
newly-received  members  and  to  the  congregation. 

This  form  of  Church-covenant  is  not  to  supersede  the 
examination  of  applicants  by  the  church  session. 

Receiving  Members  from  Other  Churches. 

Rules  of  Discipline,  Section  96. — When  a  member  shall  re- 
move from  one  church  to  another,  he  shall  produce  satis- 
factory testimonials  of  his  church-membership  and  dismis- 
sion before  he  can  be  admitted,  unless  the  church  session 
has  other  satisfactory  means  of  information. 

Directory  for  Worship,  Section  22. — In  publicly  receiving 
members  into  the  church  by  letter,  the  following  form  is 
recommended : 

Let  the  minister  make  proper  announcement  of  the  name 
and  former  church  relation  of  the  persons  to  be  received, 
and  then  ask  them  to  stand  at  their  respective  places  in  tJie 
audience,  or  at  the  altar  of  the  church,  as  he  may  prefer. 
He  may  then  say : 

Having  already  confessed  Christ,  you  to-day  renew  your 
covenant  with  God,  and  transfer  your  membership  to  this 
church.  May  God  give  you  grace  to  honor  him  and  to  pro- 
mote the  spread  of  the  Gospel,  the  peace  of  the  Church,  and 
the  salvation  of  souls. 

Let  the  minister  here  call  upon  all  the  members  to  rise, 
and  he  may  then  say  to  the  newly  admitted  members, 
whether  by  letter  or  on  profession  of  faith: 

We,  the  officers  and  members  of  this  church,  do  now  af- 
fectionately welcome  you  to  membership  and  fellowship  in 
this  Christian  household;  and  we  devoutly  pray  that  God 
may  make  you  happy  and  useful  in  the  new  relation  which 
you  have  assumed. 

And  now  may  the  God  of  peace,  that  brought  again  from 
the  dead  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  that  great  Shepherd  of  the 
sheep,  through  the  blood  of  the  everlasting  covenant,  make 
you  perfect  in  every  good  work  to  do  his  will,  working  in 
you  that  which  is  well  pleasing  in  his  sight,  through  Jesus 
Christ,  to  whom  be  glory  forever  and  ever.    Amen. 


72  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

2.  Jurisdiction  over  Church  Members. 

Constitution,  Section  7. — Original  jurisdiction  in  relation 
to  church  members  pertains  to  the  church  session. 

Rules  of  Discipline,  Section  96. — Members  when  dis- 
missed shall  be  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  church  session 
dismissing  them,  until  they  shall  be  admitted  into  some 
other  church. 

3.  Letters  of  Dismission. 

Constitution,  Section  27. — It  is  the  duty  of  the  session  to 
grant  letters  of  dismission,  which,  when  given  to  parents, 
shall  always  include  the  names  of  their  baptized  children. 

Rules  of  Discipline,  Section  100. — No  certificate  of  dis- 
mission, from  either  a  church  session  or  a  Presbytery,  shall 
be  valid  testimony  of  good  standing  for  a  longer  period  than 
one  year ;  and  such  certificate,  given  to  persons  who  have  al- 
ready removed,  shall  state  the  standing  of  the  person  only 
to  the  time  of  removal. 

Resolved,  That  as  a  means  to  avoid  the  frequent  loss  of 
membership  to  our  Church  by  removal,  we  recommend  that 
our  ministers,  upon  the  removal  of  any  member  from  with- 
in their  charge,  shall  immediately  notify  the  pastor  of  the 
church  at  the  point  to  which  the  member  or  members  may 
remove,  giving  such  information  concerning  the  removing 
member  as  may  be  of  interest.    Adopted. — 1890,  p.  29. 

An  evil  which  has  grown  up  in  many  places  in  our  Church 
is  the  failure  of  members  moving  out  of  one  community  into 
another  to  remove  their  membership.  Therefore,  we  rec- 
ommend that  you  ask  your  Presbyteries  to  instruct  their 
ministers  and  sessions  to  give  letters  to  their  members  re- 
moving into  the  bounds  of  another  church,  and  that  they 
notify  the  pastor  or  session  into  whose  community  such 
members  remove  of  this  fact.    Adopted. — 1897,  p.  45. 

4.  Causes  Without  Process. 

Rules  of  Discipline,  Sections  63,  64. — When  a  member 
shall  make  his  offense  known  to  the  church  session,  a  state- 
ment of  the  facts  shall  be  recorded,  and  judgment  rendered 
without  process. 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  73 

64.  When  a  member  shall  profess  before  the  church  ses- 
sion an  unregenerate  heart,  or  may,  for  any  reason,  desire 
to  cease  to  be  a  member  of  the  church,  and  no  charges  are 
pending  against  him,  the  court  may  retire  his  name  from 
the  roll,  record  the  facts,  and,  at  its  option,  announce  them 
publicly.  However,  this  action  shall  not  be  taken  until  the 
church  session  has  ascertained,  after  due  inquiry,  that  the 
conduct  of  the  member  is  not  the  result  of  temptation  or 
transient  darkness  of  spirit. 

"When  a  church  member,  against  whom  there  is  no 
charge  of  immoral  or  irreligious  conduct,  and  whose  moral 
character  is  such  that  there  is  no  ground  for  any  such 
charge,  requests  the  church  session  to  erase  his  name  from 
their  church  book,  have  they  a  right  to  grant  his  request  ?" 

In  the  opinion  of  your  Committee,  they  have.  Adopted. 
—1859,  p.  20. 

5.  Names  Retired  upon  a  Separate  Roll. 

Rules  of  Discipline,  Section  97. — If  a  church  miember  shall 
remove  beyond  the  bounds  of  the  church  to  which  he  be- 
longs, and  for  one  year  shall  neglect  to  call  for  a  letter  of 
dismission,  his  name  may  be  retired  upon  a  separate  roll,  of 
which  due  record  shall  be  made. 

6.  Dropping  Names  from  the  Roll. 

Your  Committee  on  Judiciary  respectfully  submit  the  fol- 
lowing report : 

They  have  had  before  them  a  memorial  requesting  you  to 
"make  a  deliverance  as  to  whether  a  congregation  may  drop 
from  its  roll  absent  or  inefficient  members,"  and  also  as  to 
how  a  congregation  without  a  church  session  should  pro- 
ceed to  accomplish  the  same  object. 

Your  Committee  recommend  that  you  reply: 

1st.  That,  without  grounds  other  than  absence  or  ineffi- 
ciency, a  congregation  has  no  right  to  drop  a  member  from 
its  roll;  but  in  case  of  absence  for  a  year  or  more  without 
calling  for  a  letter,  his  name  may  be  retired  upon  a  separate 
roll,  as  decided  by  a  former  General  Assembly. 


74  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

2.  That  without  the  intei-position  of  a  church  session  a 
person's  membership  in  the  church  cannot  be  disturbed. 
Adopted.— 1882,  p.  27. 

7.  Cannot  Withdraw  from  Presbytery  by  Own  Vote. 

It  seems  from  a  petition  from  John  L.  Odum,  Stated 
Clerk  of  Greenville  Presbytery,  that  Mt.  Zion,  a  congrega- 
tion of  that  Presbytery,  of  its  own  motion,  transferred 
its  membership  to  Dallas-Bonham  Presbytery;  and  that  a 
memorial  from  Greenville  Presbytery  was  sent  to  Texas 
Synod  asking  that  Synod  make  a  ruling  on  the  action  of 
said  congregation,  which  the  Synod  failed  to  do.  The  Clerk 
in  his  petition  requests  the  Assembly  to  construe  the  action 
of  Mt.  Zion  congregation. 

It  is  our  opinion  that  a  congregation  cannot '  withdraw 
from  one  Presbytery  and  join  another,  and  only  by  action 
of  Synod  can  a  congregation  be  so  transferred.  The  action 
of  Mt.  Zion  congregation  is  illegal.  See  Section  37,  page 
98,  of  Constitution.— 1913,  p.  196. 

8.  Members  Should  Give  of  Their  Means  to  Support  the 

Church. 

Resolved,  That  each  Session  and  Presbytery  be,  and  is 
hereby,  recommended  and  required  by  reasonable  and  pro- 
portionate assessment,  or  otherwise,  as  they  may  deem  best 
suited  to  their  circumstances,  to  bring  every  member  of 
each  congregation  to  bear  a  part  in  meeting  the  current  ex- 
penses of  the  congregation,  and  to  aid  the  general  enter- 
prises of  the  Church.    Adopted. — 1858,  p.  79. 

9.  The  General  Assembly's  Card  for  Systematic  Benefi- 
cence. 

Submitted  to  every  member  of  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian Church  as  a  guide  in  the  duty  of  giving: 

1.  Toward  the  pastor's  salary  (incidental  expenses  of  the 
church  included,  if  the  session  directs)  I  agree  to  give  the 

sum  of  $ per  week,  per  month,  per  quarter,  per 

year  (mark  out  what  is  not  needed). 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  75 

2.  For  the  general  enterprises  of  the  Church  I  will  pay, 
during  the  periods  indicated,  the  several  sums  named: 

January  and  February — Church  Erection $ 

March  and  April — Home   Missions $ 

May  and  June — Education $ 

July  and  August — Synodical    Missions ? 

September  and  October — Foreign  Missions $ 

November  and  December — Ministerial  Relief ....  $ 

Date  - ,  189 .. .  Signed 

Place  your  offering  in  an  envelope,  indicating  name, 
amount,  and  object  for  which  it  is  given.  Deposit  in  col- 
lection basket  or  hand  to  a  deacon  or  the  treasurer.  If  the 
Lord  has  prospered  you,  of  course  you  will  increase  the 
amount  subscribed,  in  proportion,  as  the  various  quarters 
come  round.  If  you  are  delinquent  at  the  end  of  the  period, 
a  collector  will  call  on  you. 

On  the  reverse  side  of  the  card  shall  be  printed  a  state- 
ment of  the  action  of  this  body,  and  such  other  matter  as 
the  representatives  of  the  Boards  may  deem  suitable.  The 
cost  of  printing  and  distributing  these  cards  shall  be  pro- 
vided for  by  the  Boards,  in  such  proportion  as  may  be 
agreed  upon  by  them.  The  cards  shall  be  supplied,  to  con- 
gregations calling  for  them,  free  of  charge. — 1895,  p.  48. 

10.  Change  of  Calendar  for  Beneficences. 

On  motion,  the  following  order  was  adopted  as  the  calen- 
dar for  the  year  as  a  suggestive  time  of  making  the  offer- 
ings to  the  various  Boards  of  the  Assembly.  Same  was 
adopted  in  lieu  of  the  present  one  and  is  as  follows : 

Ministerial  Relief — December  and  January. 
Sunday   School   and   Young  People's   Work —  February 
and  March. 

Legal  Fund — April. 

Publication — May. 

Missions — June. 

Synodical  Offerings — July  and  August. 


76  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

Education — August,  September,  and  October. 
Missions — November.     Adopted. — 1911,  p.  116. 
Reaffirmed  1918,  p.  9. 

The  Assembly's  Budget  Plan. 

The  representatives  of  the  various  Boards  met  in  Clarks- 
ville,  Tenn.,  on  December  12,  1918.  The  aim  of  this  meet- 
ing was  to  concert  better  plans  to  finance  the  great  and 
pressing  needs  of  the  Boards.  This  initial  m.eeting  was 
both  a  success  and  an  inspiration.  It  resulted  in  that  "in- 
formal conference"  for  the  same  purpose  at  Fayetteville, 
Ark.,  and  later  in  the  appointment  of  the  committee  which 
drew  up  the  plan.  The  plan,  which  follows,  and  which  was 
adopt-ed,  is  almost  identical  with  the  one  presented  to  the 
Clarksville  meeting  by  Rev.  J.  L.  Hudgins.  The  special  com- 
mittee, raised  for  the  purpose  of  presenting  this  whole  ques- 
tion succinctly  before  the  Assembly,  makes  the  following 
report : 

We  therefore  recommend: 

1.  That  the  sum  of  $90,000  be  fixed  as  the  minimum 
amount  that  should  be  raised  by  the  congregations  of  the 
Church  for  the  support  of  the  work  of  the  Assembly  Boards, 
for  the  current  Assembly  year,  1919-1920. 

2.  That  to  raise  this  amount,  the  congregations  of  the 
entire  Church  be  required  to  raise  an  amount  equal  to  a 
dollar  and  one-half  per  resident  member  and  that  this  be 
apportioned  to  each  as  the  amount  to  be  raised  for  the 
year,  for  the  use  of  the  boards  and  agencies  hereinafter 
mentioned. 

3.  That  you  adopt  the  following  as  the  basis  of  apportion- 
ment of  the  $90,000:  Missions,  30  per  cent;  Education,  20 
per  cent;  Ministerial  Relief,  20  per  cent;  Theological  Sem- 
inary, 5  per  cent ;  Sunday  School  and  Young  People's  Work, 
5  per  cent ;  Board  of  Tithing,  5  per  cent ;  Board  of  Publica- 
tion, 5  per  cent ;  and  for  paying  the  expenses  of  making  the 
campaign  of  the  congregations  to  raise  the  apportionment 
and  the  expense  of  the  endowment  campaign,  5  per  cent 
each,  or  such  a  part  of  that  per  cent  as  may  be  needed  in 
carrying  on  the  campaign. 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  77 

4.  That  the  Assembly  appoint  an  Executive  Committee 
to  consist  of  one  member  from  each  of  the  several  Boards 
to  superintend  the  campaign  contemplated  in  this  recom- 
mendation, as  follows:  Board  of  Missions,  J.  E.  Eberts; 
Theological  Seminary,  Rev.  Hugh  S.  McCord;  Ministerial 
Relief,  Rev.  J.  T.  Coleman;  Publication,  Hon.  H.  J.  Graf; 
Tithing,  Frank  McDonald ;  Education,  Rev.  J.  W.  Dishman ; 
Endowment,  T.  C.  CaUicott. 

5.  We  further  recommend  that  Hon.  Frank  McDonald,  of 
Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  be  the  Secretary  and  Treasurer  and 
General  Director  of  this  committee,  and  that  all  collections 
be  sent  direct  to  him,  and  that  he  send  to  each  of  the 
Boards  their  proportion  of  such  collections,  at  least  once 
each  month,  as  received. 

7.  We  further  recommend  that  the  period  for  the  raising 
of  this  budget  extend  to  April  1,  1920. 

Signed  by  the  Committee, 

C.  M.  Zwingle, 
C.  M.  Smith, 
T.  G.  Reid, 
L.  T.  Evans, 
J.  M.  Russell. 
Adopted,  1919. 


III.  CHURCH  OFFICERS. 


Although  no  detailed  form  of  church  government  is  laid 
down  in  the  New  Testament,  yet  the  general  or  funda- 
mental principles  of  the  same  are  clearly  taught  therein. 

Under  the  Mosaic  dispensation,  church  government  was 
comprised  in  the  civil  government. 

During  the  captivity,  the  synagogue  system  of  worship 
was  -established,  which,  after  the  captivity,  was  introduced 
into  Judea,  and  was  in  general  use  at  the  coming  of  Christ. 
In  the  synagogues,  Christ  and  his  apostles  generally  taught. 
(Matt.  xii.  9 ;  Luke  iv.  16 ;  John  vi.  59 ;  xviii.  20 ;  Acts  xiii. 
5 ;  xviii.  4.)  The  synagogue  was  under  the  control  of  a  min- 
ister, ruler  (Luke  viii.  41;  xiii.  14),  and  a  bench  of  elders. 
Neither  Christ  nor  his  apostles  introduced  any  radical 
change  into  this  mode  of  religious  worship  and  government, 
but  adopted  it  as  they  found  it.  The  polity  of  the  synagogue 
and  of  the  Jewish  ecclesiasticism  generally  was  simply  and 
purely  Presbyterian  in  form — a  government  by  presbyters. 
This  fact  is  to  the  English  reader  somewhat  obscured  by 
translating  the  Greek  presbuteros  by  the  English  word  elder. 

The  church  official  was  called  presbuteros  (presbyter),  and 
an  assembly  of  these  was  called  presbuterion  (Presbytery). 
(Luke  xxii.  66;  Acts  xxii.  5;  1  Tim.  iv.  14.) 

All  apostles  were  elders,  but  all  elders  were  not  apostles. 
(1  Pet.  V.  1.)  The  apostles  had  no  successors,  as  such.  The 
chief  characteristics  of  the  apostolic  office  were  two — to 
have  seen  Christ,  and  to  have  been  personally  called  to  it. 
(Acts  i.  21-26.)  Paul's  case  was  pecuHar,  but  it  was  not  an 
exception  to  this  rule.  (Acts  ix.  1-12;  xxii.  1-15.)  The 
apostolic  office,  in  its  technical  sense,  therefore,  of  necessity 
expired  with  the  death  of  those  personally  called  by  Christ. 
Others  were  called  apostles,  as  Barnabas,  but  not  in  the 
sense  of  those  appointed  by  Christ.  The  terms  elder  and 
bishop,  in  the  New  Testament,  denote  the  same  office,  the 


80  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

former  being  current  among  the  Jewish  and  the  latter 
among  the  Gentile  Churches.  (Compare  1  Pet.  v.  1  and 
Phil.  i.  1.) 

The  New  Testament  recognizes  two  kinds  of  elders — those 
that  labor  in  doctrine  and  those  that  rule.  (1  Tim.  v.  17.) 
The  former  ai^  invested  with  ministerial  and  also  with  gov- 
ernmental functions,  and  the  latter  with  governmental  only. 
This  fact  puts  both  a  clerical  and  a  lay  element  into  all 
Church  courts. 

Aside  from  the  apostolic  office,  which  was  temporary,  the 
presbyterial  was  the  highest  known  to  the  Apostolic  Church. 
Paul,  as  a  presbyter,  took  part  with  other  presbyters  in  the 
ordination  of  Timothy.     (1  Tim.  iv.  14 ;  2  Tim.  i.  6.) 

While  the  elder,  or  presbyter,  is  the  highest,  it  is  also 
the  lowest  designation  of  a  church  functionary  recognized 
by  the  New  Testament.  The  grades  in  the  ministry,  of 
deacon,  elder,  bishop,  arch-bishop,  etc.,  are  post-apostolic, 
and  vv'ithout  Scriptural  authority.  The  deacon  is  not  a 
clerical,  but  a  laical  functionary.  (Acts  vi.  1-6.) — From  In- 
troductory Statement  on  Church  Government,  Confession  of 
Faith,  pp.  78,  79. 

Confession  of  Faith,  Sections  108,  109.— The  Lord  Jesus, 
as  King  and  Head  of  his  Church,  has  therein  appointed  a 
government  instrusted  to  church  officers,  distinct  from  the 
civil  government. 

109.  By  Divine  appointment  the  officers  of  the  visible 
Church  have  the  power  to  admit  members  into  its  com- 
munion, to  admonish,  suspend,  or  expel  the  disorderly  and 
to  restore  those  who,  in  the  judgment  of  charity,  have  re- 
pented of  their  sins. 

Constitution,  Section  8. — The  ordinary  and  perpetual  of- 
ficers of  the  Church  are  teaching  elders  or  ministers  of  the 
Word,  who  are  commissioned  to  preach  the  gospel  and  ad- 
minister the  sacraments ;  ruling  elders,  the  representatives 
of  the  people ;  and  deacons. 

I.  MINISTERS. 

Constitution,  Sections  9-11. — The  office  of  the  ministry  is 
the  first  in  the  Church,  both  for  dignity  and  usefulness. 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  81 

The  person  who  fills  it  has  in  the  Scriptures  different  titles, 
expressive  of  his  various  duties.  As  he  has  the  oversight 
of  the  flock  of  Christ,  he  is  termed  bishop ;  as  he  feeds  them 
with  spiritual  food,  he  is  termed  pastor ;  as  he  serves  Christ 
in  his  Church,  he  is  termed  minister;  as  it  is  his  duty  to  be 
grave  and  prudent,  and  an  example  to  the  flock,  and  to 
govern  well  in  the  house  and  kingdom  of  Christ,  he  is  termed 
presbyter  or  elder;  as  he  is  the  messenger  of  God,  he  is 
termed  angel  of  the  Church ;  as  he  is  sent  to  declare  the  will 
of  God  to  sinners,  and  to  beseech  them  to  be  reconciled  to 
God  through  Christ,  he  is  termed  embassador;  as  he  bears 
the  glad  tidings  of  salvation  from  place  to  place,  without 
having  his  labors  confined  to  any  particular  church  or  local- 
ity, he  is  termed  evangeHst;  as  he  stands  to  proclaim  the 
gospel,  he  is  termed  preacher;  as  he  expounds  the  Word, 
and  by  sound  doctrine  both  exhorts  and  convinces,  he  is 
termed  teacher;  and  as  he  dispenses  the  manifold  grace  of 
God,  and  the  ordinances  instituted  by  Christ,  he  is  termed 
steward  of  the  mysteries  of  God.  These  titles  do  not  in- 
dicate different  grades  of  office,  but  all  describe  one  and  the 
same  officer. 

10.  He  that  fills  this  office  should  possess  a  competency  of 
human  learning,  and  be  blameless  in  life,  sound  in  the  faith, 
and  apt  to  teach ;  he  should  exhibit  a  sobriety  and  holiness 
of  conversation  becoming  the  gospel ;  he  should  rule  his  own 
house  well,  and  should  have  a  good  report  of  those  who  are 
without. 

11.  As  the  Lord  has  given  different  gifts  to  the  ministers 
of  the  Word,  and  has  committed  to  them  various  works  to 
execute,  the  Church  is  authorized  to  call  and  appoint  them 
to  labor  as  pastors,  teachers,  and  evangelists,  and  in  such 
other  work  as  may  be  needful  to  the  Church,  according  to 
the  gifts  in  which  they  excel. 

1.  Minister  versus  Bishop. 

Ordered,  That  the  word  "bishop,"  as  it  occurs  in  the  Min- 
utes, be  erased,  and  the  word  "minister"  be  inserted. — 1850, 
P.  10. 


82  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

2.  One  Must  Adopt  the  Confession  of  Faith  to  Become  a 

Minister. 

"Can  any  one  become  a  minister  and  member  of  a  Presby- 
tery of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  without  adopt- 
ing the  Confession  of  Faith  and  Form  of  Government  of  the 
Church  ?" 

"Answer:  He  cannot.    Adopted." — 1873,  p.  30. 

3.  One  Minister  May  not  Intrude  in  the  Field  of  Another 

without  His  Consent. 

"Has  a  Presbytery  th-a  constitutional  right  to  send  an 
itinerant  minister  into  a  congregation  to  preach,  etc.,  which 
has  a  stated  pastor?"  "Not  without  the  consent  of  the  pas- 
tor and  his  congregation,  nor  has  such  a  minister  any  right 
to  intrude  at  his  own  election  (meaning,  of  his  own  choice). 
Adopted."— 1853,  p.  51. 

4.  Ministers  Directed  by  Their  Presbyteries. 

Constitution,  Section  31. — The  Presbytery  has  power  to 
require  ministers  to  devote  themselves  diligently  to  their 
sacred  calling. 

The  General  Assembly  urged  "upon  the  various  Presby- 
teries the  importance  and  propriety  of  directing  their 
preachers." — 1882,  p.  17. 

5.  A  Minister  Whose  Membership  Is  in  One  Presbytery  and 
Who  Lives  in  Another. 

Rules  of  Discipline,  Section  99. — Except  by  consent  of  the 
Synod,  ministers  shall  not  be  permitted  to  hold  membership 
in  a  Presbytery  other  than  that  in  whose  bounds  they  reside. 

"How  long  may  a  minister  retain  membership  in  one 
Presbytery  and  live  and  labor  in  the  bounds  of  another?" 

The  General  Assembly  of  the  Church,  some  years  ago, 
passed  a  resolution  to  the  effect  that  if  a  minister  moved 
into  the  bounds  of  a  Presbytery  and  remained  there  twelve 
months  without  applying  to  that  Presbytery  for  member- 
ship, the  Presbytery  should  call  on  him  for  satisfactoiy 
reasons  why  he  had  not  done  so  within  that  time,  and,  if  he 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  83 

failed  to  render  such  reasons,  that  the  Presbytery  should 
proceed  to  inquire  into  the  case  according  to  the  Book  of 
Discipline,  chapter  2,  Form  of  Process  against  a  Bishop  or 
Member.  Your  Committee  is  of  the  opinion  that  some  ex- 
ceptions might  be  made,  in  regard  to  residence  in  extraor- 
dinary circumstances,  by  the  consent  of  the  Presbyteries 
concerned. — 1866,  pp.  50,  51.  [Note. — According  to  the  Re- 
vised Book,  Rules  of  Discipline,  Section  99  (see  above),  the 
Synod,  and  not  the  Presbyteries,  must  determine  this  ques- 
tion.—J.  V.  S.] 

6.  Jurisdiction  Over  a  Dismissed  Minister. 

Rules  of  Discipline,  Section  98. — When  a  Presbytery  shall 
dismiss  a  minister,  licentiate,  or  candidate,  he  shall  remain 
under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Presbytery  thus  dismissing 
him,  until  he  shall  be  received  by  another. 

Is  a  minister,  while  holding  a  letter,  under  the  jurisdic- 
tion of  the  Presbytery  which  gave  such  letter? 

Your  Committee  are  of  opinion  that  a  minister,  in  such  a 
case,  is  amenable  to  the  Presbytery  granting  the  letter. 

Is  the  holder  of  such  a  letter  to  be  considered  a  member 
of  the  Presbytery  which  granted  the  letter  ? 

Your  Committee  are  of  opinion  that  when  such  minister 
is  dismissed  from  Presbytery  he  has  no  further  right  as  a 
Presbyter  in  its  council.    Adopted. — 1859,  p.  40. 

7.  A  Minister  In  Transitu  Cannot  Sit  as  a  Member  of  Synod. 

Is  the  holder  of  such  a  letter  a  member  of  the  Synod  com- 
posed in  part  of  the  Presbytery  granting  the  letter? 

Your  Committee  are  of  the  opinion  that,  when  a  member 
withdraws  from  Presbytery,  his  name  is  discontinued  on 
the  records  of  Presbytery;  as  the  roll  of  Synod  is  made  up 
from  the  records  of  the  Presbytery,  the  Synod  could  not, 
therefore,  recognize  said  minister  as  a  member.  Adopted. 
1859,  p.  41;  1866,  p.  51;  1873,  pp.  13,14;  1871,  p.  29. 

8.  Status  of  Licentiate  Declared. 

Until  ordination,  a  licentiate  is  a  probationer.  His  au- 
thority is  transient  and  temporary.      He  has  only  been 


84  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

licensed  to  preach  th«  gospel,  and  that  license  is  liable  to 
revocation  by  the  arbitrary  act  of  the  Presbytery,  and  there- 
fore he  is  not  a  minister  of  the  gospel  in  the  sense  of  that 
word  as  used  ordinarily  in  the  statute  law  of  marriage.  In 
this  report  all  of  the  Committee  concur.  Adopted. — 1899, 
p.  51. 

9.  Status  of  a  Minister  Who  Has  Entered  Another  Com- 
munion. 

We  have  considered  the  following  question  by  Foster 
Presbytery  as  follows:  Does  Section  66,  Rules  of  Discipline, 
apply  to  an  ordained  minister  who  has  renounced  the  com- 
munion of  the  Church  without  a  letter  from  the  Presbytery. 

We  recommend  that  you  answer  as  follows:  The  section 
applies  to  all  "members  or  officers"  of  the  Church,  and  sec- 
tion 8  of  the  Constitution  names  "ministers  of  the  word" 
in  enumerating  the  officers  of  the  Church.  Section  66,  there- 
fore, does  apply  to  ministers. 

W^en  he  renounces  the  communion  in  the  manner  de- 
scribed, and  his  renunciation  is  assented  to  by  his  Presby- 
tery, by  recording  the  fact  and  erasing  his  name,  he  ceases 
to  be  a  minister  or  member  of  the  Church.  Adopted — 
1901,  p.  56. 

10.  On  Petitioning  to  Return. 

There  have  been  referred  to  us  the  question  propounded 
by  Lebanon  Presbytery  concerning  the  legal  status  of  a  min- 
ister who  has  joined  another  Church  without  asking  for  a 
letter,  and  afterward  asks  to  be  admitted  back  into  the  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  ministry. 

Your  committee  thinks  that  any  member  of  the  ministry 
of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  who  joins  another 
Church,  without  taking  a  letter,  thereby  forfeits  all  his  of- 
fices, rights,  and  privileges  in  our  Church ;  and  on  his  return 
he  should  be  received  in  the  same  manner  as  though  he  had 
never  been  in  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  ministry. 
Adopted.— 1904,  p.  53. 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  85 

11.  Who  Is  Competent  to  Act  in  Committee. 

By  request  of  the  Committee  on  Publication,  you  have  re- 
ferred to  our  committee  the  question  of  competency  of  mem- 
bers of  said  committee  to  act  on  memorials  from  the  Pres- 
byteries they  represent. 

It  is  our  opinion  that  it  would  not  be  proper  for  a  mem- 
ber of  a  committee  to  act  on  a  memorial  coming  from  the 
Presbytery  he  represents,  but  he  would  be  competent  and 
eligible  to  act  on  all  matters,  except  those  personal  to  him- 
self or  his  Presbytery.    Adopted. — 1913,  p.  196. 

12.  A  Minister  May  not  Fill  Functions  of  His  Office  and  Re- 
tain His  Membership  in  the  Local  Church. 

In  the  matter  of  the  memorial  from  Foster  Presbytery 
your  Committee  recommend  that  the  General  Assembly 
affirm  and  approve  the  construction  of  the  law  as  contained 
in  the  following  resolution,  adopted  by  that  Presbytery: 

Resolved :  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  Presbytery  that  an 
ordained  minister  in  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church 
cannot  legally  be  a  member  of  any  local  congregation  or 
"particular  church"  and  that  no  church  session  is  authorized 
either  to  receive  such  minister  to  membership  or  to  grant 
letters  to  ordained  ministers,  as  church  sessions  have  no 
jurisdiction  over  them.    Adopted. — 1908,  p.  79. 

13.  Double  Voting   (Repeating)   Sustained. 

Item  2.  The  memorial  from  Cherokee  Presbytery,  in  re- 
ference to  the  vote  of  Rev.  G.  P.  Howard  in  that  Presbytery, 
has  been  referred  to  this  committee.  It  appears  that  Mr. 
Howard  voted  on  the  union  question  in  Chickasaw  Presby- 
tery, being  a  member  of  that  Presbytery.  He  afterward 
joined  the  Cherokee  Presbytery,  and  when  the  same  ques- 
tion came  before  that  Presbytery  voted  again.  His  right 
to  do  so  is  questioned  by  the  memorialists.  We  found  noth- 
ing in  the  Constitution  and  Form  of  Government  of  the 
Church  prohibiting  such  a  vote.  In  the  civil  law  a  second 
vote  is  prohibited  by  legislative  act.  There  is  no  such  act  in 
our  Church  law.    We,  therefore,  find  such  vote  is  not  illegal. 


86  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

The  exercise  of  the  right  to  vote  is  a  matter  that  addresses 
itself  to  the  judgment  and  conscience  of  the  vorer,  under 
the  circumstances  attending  such  vote.  Adopted. — 1905, 
pp.  68,  69. 

14.  Double  Voting   (Repeating)    Questioned. 

Motion  was  made  for  the  adoption  of  the  foregoing  re- 
port, whereupon  Elder  F.  H.  Prendergast  proposed  the  fol- 
lowing, which  was  seconded: 

"To  amend  report  of  Judiciary  Committee,  by  adding 
thereto : 

"This  Assembly  disapproves  of  the  action  of  persons  vot- 
ing on  a  question  sent  down  to  the  Presbyteries,  in  one  Pres- 
bytery, and  then  moving  to  another  Presbytery,  and  again 
voting  on  the  same  question.  And  in  such  case  the  Presby- 
tery should  reject  the  second  vote." 

The  amendment  offered  by  F.  H.  Prendergast  was  lost, 
but  at  his  request  consent  was  given  by  the  Assembly  for  it 
to  go  upon  the  record.  The  report  of  the  Judiciary  Com- 
mittee, as  originally  presented,  was  then  adopted.  Adopted. 
—1905,  pp.  68,  69. 

15.  Ministers  Must  Attend  Synod. 

Our  Form  of  Government  defines  plainly  the  several  ju- 
dicatories of  our  Church,  requiring  prompt  attention  there- 
to, a  disregard  for  which  inevitably  leads  to  anarchy.  To 
reach  delinquent  members  of  Synod,  your  Committee  recom- 
mend that  the  several  Synods  under  your  care  require  each 
Presbytery  to  hold  its  members  amenable  for  non-attend- 
ance at  Synod.  The  reasons  rendered  shall  be  spread  on  the 
minutes  of  Presbytery,  but  no  reasons  shall  be  sustained 
unless  the  hindering  causes  named  were  providential.  Ap- 
proved.—1851,  p.  23. 

16.  Relation  of  a  Suspended  Minister  to  Presbytery. 

"What  relation  does  a  suspended  minister  sustain  to  the 
Presbytery  suspending  him?" 

He  is  amenable  to  the  Presbytery  suspending  him,  but  de- 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  87 

prived  of  all  the  privileges  and  functions  pertaining  to  the 
ministerial  office.    Adopted. — 1867,  p.  83. 

"Has  a  suspended  minister  of  the  gospel  a  right  to  ex- 
ercise himself  in  any  of  the  functions  of  the  ministry  while, 
he  is  under  suspension ;  and  if  so,  to  what  extent  ?" 

Your  committee  is  of  opinion  he  has  not.  Adopted. — 
1859,  p.  20. 

"How  ought  a  minister,  suspended  from  the  functions  of 
his  office,  to  be  treated  by  his  Presbytery?" 

With  kindness,  endeavoring  to  bring  him  to  repentance. 
Adopted.— 1858,  p.  33. 

17.  Restoring  a  Suspended  or  Deposed  Minister. 

Rules  of  Discipline,  Section  41. — A  suspended  or  deposed 
minister  shall  not  be  restored,  however  penitent  he  may 
appear,  until  he  shall  exhibit,  for  a  satisfactory  period,  such 
an  exemplary,  humble,  and  edifying  walk  and  conversation 
as  shall  heal  the  wound  made  by  his  offense.  A  deposed 
minister  shall  not  be  restored  until  it  appears  that  the  gen- 
eral sentiment  of  the  Church  demands  the  same,  and  then 
only  by  the  court  inflicting  the  censure,  or  with  its  consent. 

Rules  of  Discipline,  Section  62. — In  proceedings  to  restore 
a  suspended  or  deposed  minister,  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Pres- 
byterj^  to  exercise  great  caution — first  admitting  him  to  the 
communion,  if  he  has  been  debarred  the  same,  then  granting 
him  the  privilege  of  preaching  for  a  season  on  probation,  to 
test  the  sincerity  of  his  repentance  and  prospect  of  useful- 
ness, and  finally  restoring  him.  However,  the  case  shall  be 
regarded  as  under  consideration  until  the  order  of  restora- 
tion has  been  made. 

We  (Oregon  Presbytery)  ask  you  to  declare  that  a  min- 
ister under  censure  cannot  be  constitutionally  restored  with- 
out confession,  repentance,  and  exemplary,  humble,  edifying 
conversation,  to  heal  the  wound  made  by  his  scandal. 

The  Assembly  answered:  "He  cannot."— 1863,  p.  77. 

The  General  Assembly  expressed  the  opinion  that  a  sus- 
pended or  deposed  minister  cannot  be  restored  by  any  other 
than  the  judicatory  which  suspended  or  deposed  him,  unless 
by  the  consent  of  such  judicatory. — 1866,  p.  52. 


88  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

Resolved,  unanimously,  that  when  a  minister  of  the  gospel 
is  deposed  by  due  form  of  process  for  any  offense  cognizable 
by  our  Form  of  Government  and  Discipline,  such  deposition 
does  not  make  null  and  void  his  ordination,  and  that  when 
sucii  deposed  minister  be  restored  to  the  exercise  of  his 
ministerial  function  it  can  be  done  only  by  confession  and 
coiTesponding  penitence  before  the  Presbytery  which  de- 
posed him,  or  by  having  obtained  a  new  trial  and  proving 
him  clear  of  the  charges.    Adopted. — 1849,  p.  49. 

18.  A  Minister  May  Demit  His  Office. 

The  Red  River  Presbytery  propounded  the  following  ques- 
tion: Has  a  minister  the  right  to  surrender  his  credentials 
to  his  Presbytery?  And  does  the  Presbytery,  by  accepting, 
annul  all  his  ministerial  functions,  there  being  no  charge 
which  can  be  brought  against  said  minister? 

Answered  in  the  affirmative. — 1872,  p.  20. 

19.  Suspension  Cannot  Be  Removed  While  an  Appeal  Is 

Pending. 

"Is  it  right  and  proper,  and  has  a  Presbytery  the  power, 
to  remove  the  suspension  of  a  suspended  minister  v.hile  a 
regular  appeal  in  his  case  is  pending  before  a  higher  ju- 
dicatory ? 

In  the  opinion  of  your  Committee,  Presbytery  has  no  such 
power.    Approved. — 1859,  p.  20. 

20.  Directory  of  Ministers. 

With  regard  to  the  petition  of  Columbia  Synod,  your  Com- 
mittee believe  the  object  desirable,  and  therefore  recom- 
mend that  the  Stated  Clerk  of  each  Presbytery  furnish,  an- 
nually, the  addresses  of  its  ministers  to  the  Stated  Clerk  of 
the  General  Assembly,  which  shall  be  , appended  to  the 
printed  minutes  of  the  Assembly.    Adopted. — 1851,  p.  23. 

21.  A  Woman  May  not  Be  Ordained  to  the  Ministry. 

(1894,  p.  7;  1894,  p.  9;  1894,  pp.  23,  24;  1895,  pp.  36,  37.) 
The  special  committee  on  the  eligibility  of  Mrs.  L.  M. 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  89 

Woosley  to  a  seat  in  the  General  Assembly  reported  as  fol- 
lows, and  the  report  was  adopted : 
To  the  Moderator  and  Members  of  the  General  Assembly : 

Your  Special  Committee,  appointed  to  investigate  and  re- 
port upon  the  rights  of  Mrs.  L.  M.  Woosley  to  a  seat  in  this 
body  as  commissioner  from  Nolin  Presbytery,  in  the  Synod 
of  Kentucky,  beg  leave  to  report  the  following:  We  have 
nothing  regularly  before  us  except  the  commission  of  Mrs. 
Woosley,  which  appears  to  be  regular;  but  we  are  advised 
that  the  Synod  of  Kentucky,  since  the  election  of  Mrs. 
Woosley  as  such  commissioner,  undertook  to  declare  such 
election  null  and  void,  and  that  from  said  action  of  the 
Synod  Mrs.  Woosley  prosecutes  an  appeal  to  this  General 
Assembly;  and  also  that  Nolin  Presbytery  has  me- 
morialized this  body  to  review  and  reverse  the  action  of 
the  Synod.  Therefore,  without  expressing  any  opinion  as 
to  the  merits  of  the  case,  we  recammend  that  no  action  be 
taken  on  this  reference,  but  that  the  same,  together  with 
the  appeal,  memorial,  and  record  in  the  case,  when  received 
by  the  General  Assembly,  be  referred  to  the  Judiciary  Com- 
mittee for  consideration,  with  instructions  to  report  as  early 
as  practicable. — 1894,  p.  9. 

The   Committee   on   Judiciary   submitted   majority   and 
minority  reports.    The  majority  import,  which  was  adopted 
(p.  29) ,  is  as  follows : 
To  the  Moderator  and  Members  of  the  General  Assembly: 

In  the  matter  of  the  appeal  of  Mrs.  L.  M.  Woosley  from 
the  action  of  the  Synod  of  Kentucky;  of  the  memorial  of 
Nolin  Presbytery,  in  the  Synod  of  Kentucky,  touching  the 
action  of  the  Synod  of  Kentucky  relative  to  the  licensure 
and  ordination  of  Mrs.  L.  M.  Woosley  to  the  full  work  of  the 
gospel  ministry;  and  of  the  right  of  Mrs.  L.  M.  Woosley  to 
a  seat  in  this  General  Assembly  as  a  commissioner  from  the 
Nolin  Presbytery,  in  the  Synod  of  Kentucky,  on  the  part  of 
the  ministry,  your  Committee  desire  to  submit  the  follow- 
ing report: 

At  its  meeting  in  1889  Nolin  Presbytery  ordained  Mrs.  L. 
M.  Woosley  to  the  full  work  of  the  gospel  ministry. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Synod  of  Kentucky  in  1890,  the 


90  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

Synod  declared  and  adjudged  that  there  was  no  authority, 
either  in  the  Confession  of  Faith  or  the  Holy  Scriptures,  for 
the  ordination  of  a  woman  to  the  work  of  the  gospel  min- 
istry, and  further  declared  that  the  Nolin  Presbytery  had 
no  authority  to  ordain  Mrs.  L.  M.  Woosley  to  the  gos-apl 
ministry. 

At  the  meeting  of  Nolin  Presbytery,  in  August,  1893,  it 
elected  Mrs.  L.  M.  Woosley  an  alternate  commissioner  to 
this  General  Assembly,  on  the  part  of  the  ministry. 

At  the  meeting  of  Kentucky  Synod,  in  October,  1893, 
after  reciting  the  former  deliverances  of  the  Synod  touching 
the  ordination  of  a  woman  to  the  gospel  ministry,  said  Synod 
reaffirmed  its  former  rulings  and  declared  that  Nolin  Pres- 
bytery had  no  authority,  in  view  of  the  former  deliverances 
of  the  Synod,  for  the  election  of  Mrs.  L.  M.  Woosley  as  an 
alternate  commissioner  to  the  General  Assembly,  on  the  part 
of  the  ministry,  and  declared  her  election  null  and  void  and 
directed  Nolin  Presbytery  to  retire  her  name  from  its  list 
of  ministers. 

From  this  action  of  the  Synod  Mrs.  Woosley  prays  an  ap- 
peal to  this  General  Assembly.  , 

Nolin  Presbytery  declined  to  obey  the  mandate  of  the 
Synod  and  memorializes  this  General  Assembly  to  review 
and  reverse  the  action  of  the  Synod. 

Your  committee  are  of  opinion  that  the  action  of  Nolin 
Presbytery  in  ordaining  Mrs.  L.  M.  Woosley  to  the  gospel 
ministry  is  contrary  to  the  universal  and  long  established 
precedents  and  practices  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church. 

We  submit: 

1.  Under  the  Confession  of  Faith  of  the  Cumberland  Pres- 
byterian Church,  in  its  Constitution  and  Rules  of  Discipline, 
there  is  no  provision  made  for  the  licensure  and  ordination 
of  a  woman  to  the  work  of  the  gospel  ministry. 

2.  In  the  opinion  of  your  committee  there  is  no  authority 
in  the  Holy  Scriptures  for  the  licensure  and  ordination  of  a 
woman  to  the  work  of  the  gospel  ministry. 

3.  The  action  of  Nolin  Presbytery  in  ordaining  Mrs.  L.  M, 
Woosley  to  the  work  of  the  gospel  ministry  was  without 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  91 

authority  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  without  authority  of 
the  Constitution,  Rules  of  Discipline,  and  Confession  of 
Faith  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  and  such 
ordination  was  and  is  null  and  void. 

4.  The  action  of  the  Synod  of  Kentucky  in  declaring  said 
ordination  without  authority  from  the  Confession  of  Faith 
or  the  Holy  Scriptures  was  and  is  right  and  correct. 

5.  The  order  of  the  Synod  of  Kentucky,  instructing  Nolin 
Presbytery  to  retire  the  name  of  Mrs.  L.  M.  Woosley  from 
its  list  of  ministers  was  right  and  proper  and  should  be 
affirmed. 

We  recommend  that  the  appeal  of  Mrs.  Woosley  be  dis- 
missed and  that  the  action  of  the  Synod  of  Kentucky  be 
ratified  and  affirmed,  and  that  the  memorial  of  Nolin  Pres- 
bytery be  not  granted,  and  that  Mrs.  L.  M.  Woosley  be  not 
seated  as  a  member  of  this  General  Assembly,  for  the  reason 
that  she  is  not  a  regularly  ordained  minister  of  the  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  Church. — 1894,  pp.  22,  23. 

The  Nolin  Presbytery  memorialized  the  General  Assem- 
bly (of  1895)  to  re-open  the  case.  After  due  consideration 
the  Assembly  answered  as  below: 

This  question  came  before  the  General  Assembly  of  1894, 
upon  the  memorial  of  Nolin  Presbytery  and  the  appeal  of 
Mrs.  Woosley,  and  was  adjudicated  by  that  body  upon  the 
record  submitted,  and  was  there  impleaded  by  representa- 
tives of  the  parties,  thus  waiving  all  right  to  question  the 
General  Assembly's  want  of  jurisdiction.  That  General  As- 
sembly took  jurisdiction  of  the  case,  upon  the  application 
of  these  parties  as  above  stated,  and,  after  full  hearing, 
gave  it  final  issue  by  refusing  Mrs.  Woosley  a  seat  in  the 
General  Assembly  as  commissioner  from  Nolin  Presbytery, 
and  by  affirming  the  order  of  Kentucky  Synod  upon  Nolin 
Presbytery  to  retire  her  name  from  its  roll  of  ministers  on 
the  ground  of  the  invalidity  of  Mrs.  Woosley's  ordination  as 
a  minister  in  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church.  Your 
committeemen  submit  that  a  fundamental  condition  of  the 
seeking  of  any  kind  of  relief  in  the  courts  of  our  Church  is 
first  submitting  to  the  authority  of  the  Church,  as  expressed 
in  our  written  law  and  the  injunctions  of  competent  judica- 


92  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

tories.  "Those  who  have  not  submitted  to  a  regular  trial 
are  not  entitled  to  appeal,"  Discipline,  Art.  80.  "Any  mem- 
ber of  the  Church  submitting  to  its  authority  may  complain 
against  every  kind  of  decision  except  where  an  appeal  has 
been  taken."  Discipline,  Art.  89.  The  Constitution,  Art.  4, 
of  Government."  In  Art.  21  it  empowers  the  Presbytery 
"to  see  that  the  injunctions  of  the  higher  courts  are  obeyed," 
and  in  Art.  37  it  directs  the  Synod  "to  take  effectual  care 
that  the  Presbyteries  observe  the  government  of  the  Church, 
and  that  they  obey  the  injunctions  of  the  higher  courts." 
Under  General  Review  and  Control,  Discipline,  Art.  69,  it  is 
made  a  matter  of  examination,  "whether  the  injunctions  of 
the  superior  courts  have  been  obeyed."  Art.  84,  Rules  of 
Discipline:  "In  considering  an  appeal,  the  following  order 
shall  be  observed:  1.  Ascertaining  whether  the  appellant  has 
conducted  it  regularly."  The  regularity  of  an  appeal  in- 
volves submission  to  a  regular  trial.  The  regularity  of  any 
other  form  of  prayer  for  relief  certainly  cannot  involve  less 
than  the  same  obedience.  On  the  face  of  the  case  before  us, 
the  Nolin  Presbytery  has  utterly  refused  to  obey  the  injunc- 
tions of  the  courts  in  this  very  case  in  hand,  and  therefore 
the  said  Presbytery  is  rendered  ineligible  to  ask  legal  re- 
dress ;  and  therefore  the  memorial  should  be  dismissed. 

We  submit,  secondly,  that  no  provision  is  made  in  our 
laws  for  one  General  Assembly  to  re-open  a  case  adjudicated 
by  a  former  General  Assembly.  Rules  of  Discipline,  Art.  67 : 
"Every  decision  made  by  any  Church  court,  except  the 
highest,  is  subject  to  the  review  of  a  superior  court."  The 
Presbyterian  Church  holds  that  "the  decision  of  one  General 
Assembly  cannot  be  reviewed  by  a  subsequent  General  As- 
sembly. There  cannot  be  a  remedy  after  the  last,  a  court 
higher  than  the  highest."  "A  case  being  once  judicially  de- 
cided by  our  General  Assembly,  the  decision  is  final."  See 
Hodge's  Church  Polity,  pp.  502,  503.  The  Presbyterian  Gen- 
eral Assembly  of  1847  refused  to  re-open  a  case  passed  upon 
by  the  General  Assembly  of  1845.  All  recognize  that  there 
must  be  an  end  of  litigation.  There  is  no  better  place  to 
end  it  than  where  our  Constitution  prescribes  that  it  shall 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  93 

end.    Therefore,  for  this  reason  also,  the  memorial  should 
be  dismissed.  , 

And  we  recommend  that  said  memorial  of  the  Nolin  Pres- 
bytery be,  and  is  hereby,  dismissed. — 1895,  pp.  36,  37. 

II.  RULING  ELDERS. 

Constitution,  Section  17. — Ruling  elders,  the  immediate 
representatives  of  the  people,  are  chosen  by  them,  that,  in 
conjunction  with  the  minister,  they  may  exercise  govern- 
ment and  discipline  and  take  the  oversight  of  the  spiritual 
interests  of  the  particular  church,  and  also  of  the  Church 
generally,  when  called  thereunto.  It  appertains  to  their 
office,  both  severally  and  jointly,  to  watch  diligently  over 
the  flock  committed  to  their  charge,  that  no  corruption  of 
doctrine  or  of  morals  enter  therein.  Evils  which  they  can- 
not coiTect  by  private  admonition  they  should  bring  to  the 
notice  of  the  church  session.  They  should  visit  the  people 
at  their  homes,  especially  the  sick ;  they  should  instruct  the 
ignorant,  comfort  the  mourner,  nourish,  guard,  and  instruct 
the  children  of  the  church;  and  all  those  duties  which  pri- 
vate Christians  are  bound  to  discharge  by  the  law  of  charity 
are  especially  incumbent  upon  them  by  Divine  vocation  and 
are  to  be  discharged  as  official  duties.  They  should  pray 
with  and  for  the  people ;  they  should  be  careful  and  diligent 
in  seeking  the  fruit  of  the  preached  word  among  the  flock, 
and  should  inform  the  minister  in  charge  of  cases  of  sick- 
ness, affliction,  and  awakening,  and  of  all  others  which  may 
need  his  special  attention. 

1.  Who  Should  Be  Elected  Ruling  Elders? 

Constitution,  Section  18. — Those  who  fill  this  office  ought 
to  be  blameless  in  life  and  sound  in  the  faith ;  they  should 
be  men  of  wisdom  and  discretion,  and  by  the  holiness  of 
their  walk  and  conversation  should  be  examples  to  the  flock. 

Constitution,  Section  46. — Do  you,  the  members  of  this 
church,  acknowledge  and  receive  this  brother  as  a  ruling 
elder;  and  do  you  promise  to  yield  him  all  that  honor,  en- 
couragement, and  obedience  in  the  Lord  to  which  his  office, 


94  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

according  to  the  Word  of  God  and  the  government  of  this 
Church,  entitles  him? 

2.  A  Woman  May  not  Be  Ordained  a  Ruling  Elder. 

Deliverance  of  1891. 
The  Committee  on  Judiciary  respectfully  report  that  they 
have  carefully  considered  the  memorial  from  the  Presbytery 
of  Oxford,  herewith  returned,  requesting  this  General  As- 
sembly "to  consider  and  record  a  deliverance  on  the  ques- 
tion as  to  whether  a  woman  may,  under  any  circumstances, 
be  ordained  and  installed  to  the  office  of  ruling  elder,"  and 
respectfully  recommend  that  in  acordance  with  the  Constitu- 
tion of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  you  declare 
that  a  woman  may  not  be  ordained  and  installed  to  the 
office  of  ruling  elder. — 1891,  p.  II, 

3.  A  Woman  May  Be  Ordained  a  Ruling  Elder. 

Deliverance  of  1892. 

Note. — This  question  of  the  eligibility  of  woman  to  the 
office  of  ruling  elder  again  comes  before  the  Assembly,  in 
1892,  through  a  memorial  from  Rushville  Presbytery.  The 
Committee  on  Judiciary  made  majority  and  minority  re- 
ports. The  minority  report  was  adopted,  as  follows :  "That 
your  reverend  body  declare  that  the  ordination  and  installa- 
tion of  women  as  ruling  elders  may  be  permitted  where  it 
shall  appear  needful." — Adopted,  1892,  p.  24. 

Quite  a  protest  was  entered  at  once  against  this  action  of 
the  Assembly,  signed  by  forty-two  commissioners,  claiming, 
among  other  charges,  that  it  was  an  innovation,  that  it  was 
unconstitutional,  therefore  null  and  void,  and  therefore  to 
be  reversed. — 1892,  pp.  46,  47. 

4.  A  Woman  Seated  in  the  General  Assembly  as  a  Com- 
missioner. 

The  action  of  this  Assembly,  that  of  1892,  in  declaring 
that  women  may  be  ordained  and  installed  as  ruling  elders 
"where  it  shall  appear  needful"  seems  to  have  largely  aided 
in  the  seating  of  Mrs.  Claggett  in  the  1893  Assembly,  she 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  95 

coming  as  a  commissioner  on  the  part  of  the  eldership  from 
Nolin  Presbytery,  as  witness  this  record: 

"In  accordance  with  the  recommendation  of  the  majonty 
report,  the  name  of  Mrs.  P.  L.  Claggett  was  enrolled  as  a 
commissioner  from  the  Nolin  Presbytery."  Adopted. — 
1893,  p.  14. 

5.  Proposed  Amendments  to  the  Constitution. 

In  response  to  certain  memorials  touching  the  "woman 
eldership"  question,  the  General  Assembly  sent  down  to  the 
Presbyteries  two  sets  of  proposed  amendments  to  the  Con- 
stitution, as  follows: 

First  set  of  proposed  amendments: 

That  sections  eighteen  (18)  and  twenty  (20)  of  the  Con- 
stitution be  amended  by  substituting  the  word  "persons" 
for  the  word  "men." 

That  section  twenty-three  (23)  of  the  Constitution  be 
amended  by  striking  out  the  same,  as  it  now  stands,  and  in- 
serting in  lieu  thereof  the  following: 

"Any  member  of  the  Church,  male  or  female,  of  mature 
age,  and  in  full  communion,  shall  be  eligible  to  the  office  of 
ruling  elder  or  deacon." 

Second  set  of  proposed  amendments: 

That  section  eighteen  (18),  second  clause,  be  amended  by 
striking  out  the  word  "men"  and  inserting  in  lieu  thereof 
the  words  "mates  only";  and  that  section  twenty  (20),  first 
clause,  be  amended  by  striking  out  the  word  "men"  and  in- 
serting in  lieu  thereof  the  words  "males  only." 

Deliverance  of  1894. 

The  report  of  the  Stated  Clerk  of  the  General  Assembly 
concerning  the  change  of  the  Constitution  of  the  Church 
relative  to  the  election  of  women  to  the  offices  of  ruling  elder 
and  deacon,  together  with  the  vote  of  the  Presbyteries  upon 
the  same,  has  been  submitted  to  us.  Upon  examination  of 
said  papers  we  find  that  the  proposition  for  the  change  has 
been  lost,  the  vote  standing  as  follows :  For  the  first  amend- 
ment, 15;  for  the  second  amendment,  33;  against  any 
change,  56.    Presbyteries  not  voting,  22. — 1894,  p.  56. 


96  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

Deliverance  in  1896. 
Your  Committee  on  Minutes  of  Indiana  Synod  report  that 
we  have  carefully  -examined  the  manuscript  minutes  for  the 
year  1895.  The  minutes  show  that  the  Synod  is  in  hearty 
and  active  sympathy  with  all  the  interests  and  enterprises 
of  the  Church.  Your  committee  note  the  following  violation 
of  the  Constitution  of  the  Church :  Mrs.  S.  K.  Hart  was  ad- 
mitted as  a  representative  from  the  Pisgah  congregation. 
Approved.— 1896,  p.  63. 

6.  An  Elder  or  Deacon  Cannot  Be  Elected  for  a  Limited 
Period — Cannot  Be  Deposed   Except   by  Trial. 

Constitution,  Section  47. — The  offices  of  ruling  elder  and 
deacon  are  perpetual,  and  no  one  can  be  divested  of  either 
office  but  by  deposition,  after  regular  trial,  or,  at  his  own 
request,  by  resignation.  Yet  a  ruling  elder  or  deacon  may, 
though  chargeable  with  neither  heresy  nor  immorality,  be- 
come unacceptable,  in  his  official  character,  to  a  majority 
of  the  church  which  he  serves.  In  such  a  case  it  shall  be 
the  duty  of  the  Church  session,  upon  apphcation  either 
from  the  officer  or  from  the  church,  to  dissolve  the  relation. 
But  this  shall  not  be  done  without  affording  full  opportunity 
for  the  parties  to  be  heard. 

The  office  of  ruhng  elder  and  the  office  of  deacon  being 
perpetual,  is  the  term  of  service  also  necessarily  perpetual  ? 
—1879,  p.  34. 

Your  committee  is  of  opinion,  and  so  report,  that  a  con- 
gregation has  no  power  to  depose  or  retire  an  elder  against 
his  consent,  evinced  by  voluntary  resignation,  except  upon 
charges,  and  a  fair  trial,  and  conviction  of  some  dereliction 
of  duty  in  his  office,  or  unchristian  conduct.  Your  commit- 
tee cannot  undertake  to  enumerate  all  the  grounds  which 
would  be  sufficient  for  deposition  of  an  elder.  This  must 
be  left  to  the  judgment  of  the  session  before  which  he  is 
arraigned,  in  each  particular  case,  subject  to  an  appeal  to 
the  Presbytery.  Your  committee  regard  it  a  sacred  prin- 
ciple, that  no  member  or  officer  of  a  church  can  be  deprived 
of  his  privileges  without  having  an  opportunity  of  being 
heard  in  his  defense.    Adopted. — 1880,  p.  23. 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  97 

7.  Rotation  in  OflSce. 

The  Committee  on  Judiciary  submitted  a  report,  the  con- 
sideration of  which  was  referred  to  the  next  General  As- 
sembly, the  report  being  as  follows: 

The  Republican  Valley  Presbytery  ask  that  the  Constitu- 
tion of  the  Church  be  changed  so  as  to  provide  for  rotation 
in  the  office  of  elder,  and  that  any  member  over  the  age  of 
twenty-one  be  eligible  to  that  office. 

1.  The  subject  of  rotation  has  been  often  and  thoroughly 
discussed  by  former  Assemblies,  with  the  result  that  no 
change  has  been  made. 

The  committee  think  there  is  ample  provision  for  remov- 
ing an  unacceptable  elder,  in  our  present  Constitution. 

2.  The  committee  think,  in  regard  to  the  second  proposi- 
tion, that  as  the  Constitution  now  stands,  any  members  of 
the  congregation — not  ineligible  on  other  grounds — may 
lawfully  be  made  an  elder,  and  therefore  no  change  is  rec- 
ommended.— 1896,  p.  59. 

We  have  had  referred  to  us  the  report  of  the  Judiciary 
Committee  of  the  General  Assembly  of  1896.  We  beg  leave 
to  report  that,  in  the  opinion  of  your  committee,  the  import 
of  the  committee  referred  to  us  is,  under  the  Constitution 
of  our  Church,  correct,  and  we  recommend  that  it  be  adopted. 
Approved.— 1897,  p.  69. 

8.  Electing  Elders  to  Moderate. 

The  Judiciary  Committee  beg  leave  to  report  that  they 
have  duly  considered  the  memorial  and  reference  of  Brazos 
Synod,  presenting  the  question  of  the  eligibility  of  elders  for 
the  position  of  Moderator  in  the  judicatories  of  the  Church. 
Your  committee  is  of  opinion,  and  so  report,  that  by  the 
form  and  genius  of  our  government  there  is  no  discrimina- 
tion between  the  ministers  and  elders  constituting  our  Pres- 
byteries, Synods,  and  General  Assembly,  as  to  powers,  duties, 
and  eligibility  to  office  in  said  courts.  Such  a  discrimina- 
tion would  be  disparaging  to  the  laical  constituency  of  said 
bodies,  and  destroy  that  equality  in  dignity  and  power  which 
was  intended  to  exist.  To  produce  this  effect  would  require 
some  express  provision.     The  omission  of  such  provision. 


98  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

your  committee  considers  almost  conclusive  evidence  that 
none  such  was  intended.  The  long-existing  usage,  which 
will  perhaps  continue,  of  selecting  ministers  to  the  modera- 
torship,  is  very  different  from  the  question  of  legal  eligibil- 
ity. Your  committee  is,  therefore,  of  opinion,  and  so  re- 
port, that  it  is  the  right  of  the  judicatory  to  elect  any  mem- 
ber of  the  body,  either  minister  or  elder,  to  preside  over  its 
deliberations,  and  that  every  member  is  equally  eligible, 
whether  he  be  minister  or  elder.  Referred  to  the  next  Gen- 
eral Assembly. — 1880,  p.  35. 

(The  Judiciary  Committee  of  the  next  Assembly,  1881, 
took  up  this  question  of  elders  as  Moderators  of  Church 
Courts,  made  majority  and  minority  reports,  which  were 
each  tabled;  but  the  Assembly  of  1887  makes  the  following 
deliverance. — A.  C.  B.) 

"There  is  nothing  either  in  the  spirit  or  genius  of  Pres- 
byterianism  violated  by  such  action"  (the  electing  of  a  rul- 
ing elder  to  moderate  the  body.) — 1887,  p.  32. 

9.  Ruling  Elders  not  Members  of  Presbytery  May  Be 
Placed  on  Permanent  Committees. 

In  the  matter  of  the  memorial  from  the  Bell  Presbytery, 
the  committee  find  this  question: 

"Are  ruling  elders  who  are  not  members  of  Presbytery 
competent  to  be  made  members  of  standing  committees?" 

The  Committee  have  not  reached  a  conclusion  on  this 
question,  without  hesitation  and  difficulty.  We  believe  a 
strict  or  literal  interpretation  of  the  law  would  lead  to  an 
answer  in  the  negative.  But  we  believe,  further,  that  it  is 
a  safe  rule  by  which  we  may  be  governed,  to  give  such 
construction  of  the  law  as  will  enable  Church  judicatories 
to  promote  the  interests  of  the  Church  most  effectively.  If 
we  deny  the  right  of  Presbytery  to  appoint  elders  to  im- 
portant duties,  simply  because  they  are  not,  for  the  time 
being,  members  of  Presbytery,  we  thereby  greatly  curtail 
the  power  of  the  Presbyteries  in  employing  talented  and 
useful  men  in  the  work  of  the  Church. 

We  therefore  reach  the  conclusion  that  a  liberal  construe- 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  99 

tion  of  the  law,  in  the  case,  will  give  the  Presbyteries  en- 
larged means  of  usefulness  and  that  no  injury  can  possibly 
result.  Hence  we  answer  the  question  of  the  memorial  in 
the  affirmative.  Adopted.— 1875,  p.  24.  (See  note  137  on 
this  same  question.) 

10.  An  Elder  not  a  Member  of  Presbytery  May  Be  Elected 
a  Commissioner  to  the  General  Assembly. 

"Are  elders,  who  are  not  members  of  Presbytery,  eligible 
to  be  elected  commissioners  to  the  General  Assembly?" 

We  answer  this  question  in  the  affirmative,  on  the  grounds 
assigned  for  the  answer  to  the  first  question  (see  9,  above), 
and  for  the  additional  reason,  that  the  book  gives  express 
authority  to  Presbyteries  to  appoint  elders  commissioners 
to  the  General  Assembly,  whether  such  elders  are  members 
of  Presbyteries  or  not.    Adopted. — 1875,  p.  24. 

11.  An  Elder  not  Compelled  to  Vote  as  Instructed. 

"Is  a  ruling  elder,  when  sitting  as  a  member  of  Presby- 
tery, bound  to  vote  according  to  instructions  given  by  the 
session  that  appointed  him,  upon  the  questions  of  approval 
or  disapproval  of  constitutional  amendments  proposed  by 
the  General  Assembly  to  the  Presbyteries,  or  has  a  church 
session  the  right  to  instruct  in  such  a  case?" 

Answer.  In  representative  governments  the  people  have 
the  right  to  instruct  their  representatives,  who  are  under 
obligations  to  obey ;  but  we  know  of  no  law  of  this  Church 
which  imposes  like  obhgations  upon  representatives. 
Adopted.— 1873,  p.  30. 

III.  DEACONS. 

Constitution,  Section  19. — The  duties  of  this  office  es- 
pecially relate  to  the  care  of  the  poor  and  to  the  collection 
and  distribution  of  the  offerings  of  the  people  for  pious 
uses,  under  the  direction  of  the  church  session.  To  the 
deacons,  also,  may  be  properly  committed  the  management 
of  the  temporal  affairs  of  the  church,  or  the  same  may  be 


100  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

committed    to  the  deacons  and  the  church  session,  as    a 
Board,  sharing  equal  rights  and  responsibiHties. 

\ 
1.  Men  Chosen  to  This  Office. 

Constitution,  Section  20, — To  this  office  should  be  chosen 
men  of  honest  repute  and  of  approved  piety,  who  are  es- 
teemed for  their  prudence  and  sound  judgment,  whose  con- 
versation becomes  the  gospel,  and  whose  lives  are  exem- 
plary, seeing  that  those  duties  to  which  all  Christians  are 
called  in  the  way  of  beneficence  are  especially  incumbent 
on  the  deacon  as  an  officer  in  Christ's  house. 

Constitution,  Section  22. — In  churches  where  it  is  im- 
practicable to  secure  suitable  men  for  deacons,  the  duties 
df  this  office  devolve  on  the  ruling  elders. 

Constitution,  Section  46. — Do  you,  the  members  of  this 
church,  acknowledge  and  receive  this  brother  as  a  deacon; 
and  do  you  promise  to  yield  him  all  that  honor,  encourage- 
ment and  obedience  in  the  Lord  to  which  his  office,  accord- 
ing to  the  Word  of  God  and  the  Government  of  this  Church, 
entitles  him? 

2.  Deacons  Must  Keep  a  Record. 

Constitution,  Section  21. — A  complete  account  of  collec- 
tions and  distributions,  and  a  full  record  of  proceedings, 
shall  be  kept  by  the  deacons  and  submitted  to  the  church 
session  for  examination  and  approval  at  least  once  a  year. 

3.  Deacons  Cannot  be  Elected  for  a  Limited  Period. 

(See  Section  2,  under  Ruling  Elder,  p.  96.) 

4.  Women  May  be  Appointed  to  Care  for  the  Sick. 

Constitution,  Section  23. — Where  it  shall  appear  needful, 
the  church  session  may  appoint  godly  women  for  the  care 
of  the  sick,  of  prisoners,  of  poor  widows  and  orphans,  and 
in  general  for  the  relief  of  distress. 


IV.  CHURCH  COURTS. 


The  Church  courts  recognized  by  the  New  Testament  are 
Church  Sessions  (1  Tim.  5:  17),  Presbyteries  (1  Tim.  4: 
14),  and  Synods,  or  AssembHes  (Acts  15:  5-21). — From  In- 
troductory Statement  on  Church  Government,  Confession 
of  Faith,  p.  80. 

Confession  of  Faith,  Sections  110,  111. — Church  gov- 
ernment implies  the  existence  of  Church  courts,  invested 
with  legislative,  judicial,  and  executive  authority;  and  the 
Scriptures  recognize  such  institutions,  some  of  subordinate 
and  some  of  superior  authority,  each  having  its  own  par- 
ticular sphere  of  duties  and  privileges  in  reference  to  mat- 
ters ministerial  and  ecclesiastical,  yet  all  subordinate  to 
the  same  general  design. 

111.  It  is  the  prerogative  of  these  courts,  ministerially,  to 
determine  controversies  of  faith  and  questions  of  morals,  to 
set  down  rules  and  directions  for  the  better  ordering  of  the 
public  worship  of  God  and  government  of  his  Church,  to 
receive  complaints  in  cases  of  mal-administration,  and  au- 
thoritatively to  determine  the  same,  which  determinations 
are  to  be  received  with  reverence  and  submission. 

Constitution,  Sections  24,  25. — It  is  necessary  that  the 
government  of  the  Church  be  exercised  under  some  cer- 
tain and  definite  form,  and  by  various  courts,  in  regular 
gradation.  These  courts  are  denominated  Church  Sessions, 
Presbyteries,  Synods,  and  the  General  Assembly. 

25.  The  Church  Session  exercises  jurisdiction  over  a  single 
church;  the  Presbytery,  over  what  is  common  to  the  min- 
isters, church  sessions,  and  churches  within  a  pr-sscribed 
district;  the  Synod,  over  what  belongs  in  common  to  three 
or  more  Presbyteries,  and  their  ministers,  church  sessions, 
and  churches;  and  the  General  Assembly,  over  such  mat- 
ters as  concern  the  whole  Church;  and  the  jurisdiction  of 


102  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

these  courts  is  limited  by  the  express  provisions  of  the  Con- 
stitution. Every  court  has  the  right  to  resolve  questions  of 
doctrine  and  discipline  seriously  and  reasonably  proposed, 
and  in  general  to  maintain  truth  and  righteousness,  con- 
demning erroneous  opinions  and  practices  which  tend  to  the 
injury  of  the  peace,  purity,  or  progress  of  the  Church;  and 
although  each  court  exercises  exclusive  original  jurisdic- 
tion over  all  matters  specially  belonging  to  it,  the  lower 
courts  are  subject  to  the  review  and  control  of  the  higher 
courts,  in  regular  gradation. 

All  Church  courts  shall  be  opened  and  closed  with  prayer. 

Rules  of  Discipline,  Section  67. — Every  decision  made  by 
any  Church  court,  except  the  highest,  is  subject  to  the  re- 
view of  a  superior  court,  and  may  be  brought  before  it  by 
general  review  and  control,  reference,  appeal,  or  complaint. 

Rules  of  Discipline,  Sections  68-72. — Every  court  above 
the  church  session  shall,  at  stated  intervals,  as  prescribed, 
review  the  proceedings  of  the  court  next  below.  If  any 
lower  court  shall  omit  to  send  up  its  records  for  this  pur- 
pose, the  higher  court  may  order  them  to  be  produced, 
either  immediately,  or  at  a  particular  time,  as  circumstances 
may  require. 

69.  In  reviewing  the  records  of  an  inferior  court,  it  is 
proper  to  examine:  1.  Whether  the  proceedings  have  been 
regular.  2.  Whether  they  have  been  wise,  equitable,  and 
for  the  edification  of  the  Church.  3.  Whether  they  have 
been  correctly  recorded.  4.  Whether  the'  injunctions  of  the 
superior  courts  have  been  obeyed. 

70.  Generally,  the  superior  court  may  discharge  its  duty 
by  simply  recording  on  its  own  minutes  the  approval,  the 
correction  of  proceedings,  or  the  censure  which  it  may  think 
proper  to  pass  on  the  records  under  review,  also  making 
an  entry  of  the  same  in  the  book  reviewed.  But,  should  ir- 
regular proceedings  be  found,  such  as  demand  interference, 
the  inferior  court  may  be  required  to  review  and  correct 
them.  In  cases  of  process,  however,  no  judgment  of  an  in- 
ferior court  shall  be  reversed,  unless  regularly  brought  up 
by  appeal  or  complaint. 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  103 

71.  Should  courts  neglect  to  perform  their  duty,  and 
thereby  heretical  opinions  or  corrupt  practices  be  allowed  to 
gain  ground,  or  offenders  suffered  to  escape,  or  circum- 
stances of  great  irregularity  be  not  distinctly  recorded* 
whereby  their  records  may  not  exhibit  a  full  view  of  their 
proceedings,  the  superior  court,  if  satisfied  that  such  neg- 
lect or  irregularity  has  occurred,  shall  take  cognizance  of 
the  same,  examine,  deliberate,  and  judge  in  the  whole  mat- 
ter as  if  it  had  been  recorded,  and  thus  brought  up  by  re- 
view of  the  records. 

72.  When  a  court  of  appellate  jurisdiction  shall  be  ad- 
vised, either  by  the  records  of  the  court  below,  or  by  me- 
morial with  or  without  protest,  or  by  any  other  satisfactory 
mode,  of  any  important  delinquency  or  irregular  proceed- 
ings of  such  court,  it  may  be  cited  to  appear  by  representa- 
tive or  in  writing,  at  a  specified  time  and  place,  to  show 
what  it  has  done,  or  failed  to  do,  in  the  matter  in  question. 
The  court  issuing  the  citation,  after  full  investigation,  may 
reverse  the  proceedings  in  other  than  judicial  cases,  or  it 
may  remit  the  whole  matter  to  the  court  below,  with  an  in- 
junction to  take  it  up  and  dispose  of  it  in  a  regular  manner; 
or  all  further  proceedings  in  the  matter  may  be  suspended 
by  the  appellate  court,  as  circumstances  may  require. 

1.  Moderators  of  the  Church  Courts. 

General  Regulations,  Section  1. — The  Moderator  pos- 
sesses, by  delegation  from  the  whole  body,  all  authority 
necessary  for  the  preservation  of  order,  for  directing  busi- 
ness according  to  the  rules  of  the  Church,  and  for  conven- 
ing the  court  as  prescribed  by  the  Government,  and  ad- 
journing the  same  according  to  its  own  order.  The  Mod- 
erator of  the  other  church  courts  [i.  e.  above  the  Session] 
shall  be  elected  at  each  stated  meeting  thereof,  and  holds 
his  office  until  his  successor  shall  be  elected.  At  the  open- 
ing of  each  stated  meeting  of  these  courts,  a  sermon  shall 
be  preached,  if  practicable,  by  the  Moderator  or  by  some 
minister  selected  for  that  purpose  either  by  him  or  the 
Stated  Clerk. 


104  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

General  Regulations,  Section  1. — In  the  absence  of  the 
Moderator,  the  Stated  Clerk  shall  preside  until  a  Modera- 
tor is  elected;  and  in  the  absence  of  both  Moderator  and 
Stated  Clerk,  the  members  present  shall  select  some  mem- 
ber to  p Inside  until  a  Moderator  shall  be  chosen. 

2.  Clerks  of  Church  Courts. 

General  Regulations,  Section  2. — Each  church  court  shall 
appoint  a  Stated  Clerk,  who  shall  keep  and  preserve  all 
minutes,  documents,  and  papers  committed  to  his  care,  and 
carry,  or  send  by  a  faithful  messenger,  the  minutes  of  each 
meeting  to  the  meeting  next  succeeding.  He  shall  hold  his 
office  during  the  pleasure  of  the  court. 

It  shall  be  his  duty  to  record  all  the  minutes  in  a  v/ell- 
bound  book  to  be  kept  for  that  purpose;  to  grant  extracts 
from  them  when  properly  required.  Such  extracts,  under  his 
hand,  shall  be  considered  authentic  evidence  of  the  facts 
which  they  declare.  He  shall  also  perform  the  duties  of 
Clerk  during  the  meeting  of  the  court,  unless  otherwise 
determined  by  it. 

Rules  of  Order,  Section  15. — As  soon  as  possible  after  the 
commencement  of  the  first  session  of  every  judicatory,  the 
Clerk  shall  form  a  complete  roll  of  the  members  present, 
and  place  the  same  in  the  hands  of  the  Moderator,  and  add 
thereto  the  names  of  additional  members  when  they  are 
admitted  to  their  seats. 

Rules  of  Order,  Section  16. — He  (the  Clerk)  shall  keep  a 
correct  and  faithful  record  of  the  transactions  of  the  judi- 
catory. 

(1)  Inefficient  Clerks  to  be  Removed. 

Whereas,  It  is  very  important  that  the  true  statistics  of 
the  Church  should  be  obtained,  and  whereas  this  work  can- 
not be  accomplished  unless  the  Stated  Clerks  of  Presby- 
teries and  the  Clerks  of  Church  Sessions  will  do  their  whole 
duty;  therefore. 

Resolved,  1.  That  it  shall  be  made  the  imperative  duty 
of  the  Stated  Clerk  of  the  General  Assembly  to  report  to 
the  Presbyteries  the  names  of  the  Clerks  of  Church  Ses- 


NEW  CUMBER1.AND  DIGEST.  105 

sions  who  fail  to  discharge  their  obligations  in  this  partic- 
ular, and  that  the  Presbyteries  be  directed  to  urge  upon 
Church  Sessions  the  removal  of  their  inefficient  Clerks  of 
Sessions,  and  the  appointment  of  faithful  ones  in  their 
stead.  Adopted.— 1889,  p.  52.— Reaffirmed  1891,  1897, 
1899. 

(2)  Records  Cannot  be  Changed  After  Adjournment. 

Rules  of  Order,  Section  3. — After  the  final  adjournment 
of  a  judicatory,  its  record  shall  not  be  subject  to  correction 
or  alteration  at  a  subsequent  meeting. 

Resolved,  That  no  Church  judicature  has  the  right  to 
alter,  change,  or  amend  any  minutes  of  any  preceding  ses- 
sion whatever,  and  that  minutes  can  only  be  corrected  and 
amended  at  the  session  when  they  were  made.  Adopted. — 
1858,  p.  21;  1860,  p.  73. 

(3)  Verbal  Testimony  not  Admissible  in  Records. 

Your  Committee  find  an  appeal  taken  from  a  decision  of 
the  Arkansas  Synod  by  a  respectable  number  of  members, 
wherein  said  Synod  had  decided  that  verbal  testimony  is  ad- 
missible before  a  Committee  on  Church  Records.  The  de- 
cision was  appealed  from.  Your  Committee  are  of  the  opin- 
ion that  committees  on  records  have  nothing  to  do  with 
anything  aside  from  the  records  placed  in  their  hands. 
Adopted.— 1853,  p.  27. 

(4)  Unanimous  Vote  Necessary  to  Expunge  Matter  From 

the  Records. 

Rules  of  Order,  Section  42. — It  shall  require  the  unani- 
mous vote  of  the  members  present  to  expunge  any  matter 
from  the  records. 

3.  Treasurer  of  Church  Courts. 

Rules  of  Order,  Sections  22-24. — The  Treasurer  shall 
keep  his  books  properly  posted,  so  as  to  exhibit  at  all  times 
the  financial  condition  of  the  judicatory;  he  shall  charge 


106  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

himself  with  every  item  of  property  received,  with  the  date, 
source,  and  other  minute  particulars  pertaining  thereto. 

23.  He  shall  not  pay  out  any  money,  or  part  with  any 
property,  without  an  order  from  the  judicatory,  signed  by 
the  Moderator  and  Clerk,  authorizing  him  to  do  so. 

24.  He  shall  report,  whenever  required,  the  condition,  in 
detail,  of  the  finances  of  the  judicatory. 


I.  THE  CHURCH  SESSION. 

Constitution,  Sections  26-28. — The  Church  Session  con- 
sists of  the  minister  in  charge  and  two  or  more  ruling  elders 
of  a  particular  church. 

In  the  absence  of  the  minister  in  charge,  and  in  a  vacant 
church,  the  ruling  elders  alone  may  form  a  Church  Session 
for  the  transaction  of  any  business. 

The  Church  Session  shall  be  convened  when  any  two 
ruling  elders  shall  so  request.  The  minister  in  charge  may 
convene  the  Church  Session  at  any  time. 

A  majority  of  the  Church  Session  shall  be  necessary  to 
constitute  a  quorum,  unless,  with  the  concurrence  of  the 
church,  the  Church  Session  shall  otherwise  determine;  but 
any  two  of  the  ruling  elders,  in  conjunction  with  a  minis- 
ter, may  receive  members  and  grant  letters  of  dismission. 

27.  The  Church  Session  is  charged  with  maintaining  the 
spiritual  government  of  the  church,  for  which  purpose  it  is 
its  duty  to  inquire  into  the  doctrines  and  conduct  of  the 
church  members  under  its  care;  to  receive  members  into 
the  church;  to  admonish,  suspend,  or  excommunicate  those 
found  delinquent,  subject  to  appeal;  to  urge  upon  parents 
the  importance  of  presenting  their  children  for  baptism ;  to 
grant  letters  of  dismission,  which,  when  given  to  parents, 
shall  always  include  the  names  of  their  baptized  children; 
to  ordain  and  install  ruling  elders  and  deacons  when  elected, 
and  to  require  those  officers  to  devote  themselves  to  their 
work;  to  examine  the  records  of  the  proceedings  of  the 
deacons ;  to  establish  and  control  Sabbath  schools  and  Bible 
classes,   with   especial   reference   to   the   children   of   the 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  107 

church;  to  order  collections  for  pious  uses  and  church  pur- 
poses; to  take  the  oversight  of  the  singing  in  the  public 
worship  of  God;  to  assemble  the  people  for  worship  when 
there  is  no  minister ;  to  concert  the  best  measures  for  pro- 
moting the  spiritual  interests  of  the  church ;  to  observe  and 
carry  out  the  injunctions  of  the  higher  courts;  and  to  ap- 
point representatives  to  the  higher  courts,  and  require  on 
their  return  a  report  of  their  diligence. 

28.  Every  Church  Session  shall  keep  an  accurate  record 
of  its  proceedings,  which  must  be,  at  least  once  in  every 
year,  submitted  to  the  inspection  of  the  Presbytery. 

Every  Church  Session  shall  also  keep  a  register  of  mar- 
riages, of  baptisms,  of  accessions,  and  of  the  death  and  dis- 
missions of  church  members. 

1.  Moderator  of  the  Session. 

General  Regulations,  Section  1. — The  minister  in  charge, 
when  present,  is  the  Moderator  of  the  Church  Session,  ex- 
cept where  he  is  a  party,  or  is  personally  interested  in  the 
subject-matter  under  consideration,  in  which  event  one  of 
the  ruling  elders  may  preside,  or  the  Church  Session  may 
invite  some  other  minister  to  act  as  Moderator. 

There  has  been  referred  to  your  Committee  a  Memorial 
from  Austin  Presbytery,  submitting  to  the  General  Assem- 
bly a  question  involving  the  legality  of  a  licentiate  to  act 
as  Moderator  of  a  Church  Session,  while  serving  such 
church  as  its  supply,  and  asking  the  General  Assembly  to 
make  a  deliverance  on  this  question. 

Your  Committee  recommends  that  the  General  Assembly 
rule,  in  answer  to  said  Memorial  from  Austin  Presbytery, 
that  a  licentiate  is  not  authorized  to  act  as  Moderator  of  a 
Church  Session.    Adopted.— 1906,  p.  90. 

2.  Invited  Moderator  Cannot  Vote. 

In  the  complaint  against  Texas  Synod  your  committee 
recommends  that  "a  minister  acting  as  Moderator  of  the 
session,  by  invitation  of  the  church  session,  shall  not  have 
the  right  to  vote,"  and  the  report  as  thus  amended  was 
adopted.— 1895,  p.  34. 


108  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

3.  The  Clerk  of  the  Session. 

(Note. — See  "Clerks  of  Church  Courts,"  or  General  Reg- 
ulations, Section  2,  and  Rules  of  Order,  Sections  15,  16,  Di- 
gest, p.  104.) 

(1)  The  Clerk  Is  the  Creature  of  the  Session. 

They  have  also  had  before  them  the  appeal  from  the  de- 
cision of  Sangamon  Synod,  in  the  following  case:  The  Ses- 
sion of  West  Union  congregation  elected  a  new  Clerk,  order- 
ing him  to  procure  from  the  old  clerk  the  church  records. 
The  old  clerk  claimed  that  he  was  still  the  clerk,  and  the 
Mackinaw  Presbytery  so  decided.  The  case  was  appealed  to 
the  Sangamon  Synod,  which  reversed  said  decision  on  the 
ground  that  the  clerk  is  the  creature  of  the  session.  Your 
committee  recommends  that  you  affirm  the  decision  of  the 
Synod.    Adopted.— 1882,  p.  28. 

(2)  The  Clerk  Should  Keep  a  Record  of  All  Money. 

Whereas,  it  is  desirable  for  the  credit  and  encouragement 
of  the  Church  that  the  total  contributions  of  our  members 
should  appear  in  the  minutes  of  the  General  Assembly ;  and 

Whereas,  it  is  apparent  that  much  money  contributed  is 
not  so  reported,  and  hence  the  financial  showing  of  the 
Church  is  partial  and  incomplete ;  therefore  be  it 

Resolved:  1.  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  Assembly  that  all 
session  clerks  or  treasurers  should  keep  a  careful  record  of 
all  money  contributed  by  the  members  for  -various  Church 
enterprises,  in  order  to  be  able  to  make  a  complete  report 
of  all  the  benevolent  offerings  of  the  congregation. 

2.  That  all  agents  or  others  collecting  money  from  the 
members  of  our  congregations  should  give  a  receipt  to  the 
session  clerk  or  treasurer  for  the  amount  collected  for  the 
cause  he  represents.    Adopted. — 1896,  p.  58. 

4.  The  Session  May  Hold  a  Meeting  in  the  Absence  of  the 

Minister. 

Constitution,  Section  26. — In  the  absence  of  the  minister 
in  charge,  and  in  a  vacant  church,  the  ruling  elders  alone 
may  form  a  church  session  for  the  transaction  of  any  busi- 
ness. 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  109 

It  is  the  opinion  of  this  General  Assembly  that  a  church 
session  has  the  right  to  meet  and  transact  any  business  com- 
ing before  it  at  its  regular  meetings,  in  the  absence  of  the 
pastor.    Adopted. — 1850,  p.  16. 

"Have  the  ruling  elders  of  a  congregation,  having  a  min- 
ister, the  authority  to  hold  meetings  for  the  transaction  of 
business  in  the  absence  of  said  minister?"  We  answer  that 
they  have.  Though  the  minister  is  Moderator  of  the  ses- 
sion, yet  he  is  not  invested  with  power  to  prevent  the  ses- 
sion from  convening  and  transacting  business  in  his  absence, 
whether  by  tardiness  or  intentional  absence.  Adopted. — 
1865,  p.  188. 

5.  The  Session  Has  Original  Jurisdiction  Over  Church 

Members. 

Rules  of  Discipline,  Section  7. — Original  jurisdiction  in 
relation  to  .  .  .  Church  members  pertains  to  the 
church  session. 

Constitution,  Section  27. — It  is  the  duty  of  the  church 
session  to  admonish,  suspend,  or  excommunicate  those  found 
delinquent,  subject  to  appeal. 

"Has  Presbytery  the  right  to  excommunicate  a  deposed 
minister  from  the  communion  of  the  church?" 

In  the  judgment  of  your  committee,  it  has  not.  The 
church  session  alone  has  the  right  to  receive  into,  or  cut  off 
from,  the  communion  of  the  church.  Adopted. — 1864,  p. 
140. 

6.  How  the  Session  Should  Enter  Process  against  an  Elder 

or  Deacon. 

See  the  preceding  section  (5). — "The  session  has  original 
jurisdiction  over  Church  members." 

As  the  Presbytery  enters  process  against  a  minister,  so 
the  session  enters  process  against  an  elder  or  deacon. 

Rules  of  Discipline,  Section  43. — This  principle  (see  first 
paragraph  in  Section  43,  Rules  of  Discipline)  shall  also  ap- 
ply— the  necessary  changes  being  made — to  ruling  elders 
and  deacons. 

The  memorial  from  Tulare  Presbytery  propounds  the  fol- 


no  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

lowing  question:  "Has  a  Presbytery  the  power  to  depose  a 
ruling  elder?"  In  answer  to  this  question  your  committee 
says  that,  as  a  general  rule,  the  session  is  the  only  Church 
court  that  has  original  jurisdiction  to  hear  charges,  try,  and 
depose  a  ruling  elder.  But  when,  from  any  cause,  a  fair  and 
impartial  trial  cannot  be  had  before  the  session,  or  where 
the  trial  of  the  case,  for  sufficient  reasons,  is  referred  by 
the  session  to  the  Presbytery,  or  where  the  case  is  removed 
by  appeal  from  the  session  to  the  Presbytery,  and  is  there 
heard  and  determined,  the  Presbytery  may  depose  an  elder, 
but  not  otherwise.    Adopted. — 1887,  p.  13. 

7.  When  May  the  Session  Retire  the  Name  of  a  Church 

Member? 

Rules  of  Discipline,  Sections  63,  64. — When  a  member 
shall  make  his  offense  known  to  the  church  session,  a  state- 
ment of  the  facts  shall  be  recorded,  and  judgment  rendered 
without  process. 

64.  When  a  member  shall  profess  before  the  church  ses- 
sion an  unregenerate  heart  or  may,  for  any  reason,  desire 
to  cease  to  be  a  member  of  the  church  and  no  charges  are 
pending  against  him,  the  court  may  retire  his  name  from 
the  roll,  record  the  facts,  and,  at  its  option,  announce  them 
publicly.  However,  this  action  shall  not  be  taken  until  the 
church  session  has  ascertained,  after  due  inquiry,  that  the 
conduct  of  the  member  is  not  the  result  of  temptation  or 
transient  darkness  of  spirit. 

8.  To  Whom  Does  an  Elder  Resign? 

By  a  memorial  from  Obion  Presbytery  this  General  As- 
sembly is  requested  to  make  a  deliverance  upon  the  ques- 
tion :  "Who  shall  act  upon  the  resignation  of  a  Ruling  Elder, 
the  session,  or  the  congregation?" 

This  is  a  new  question  in  that,  so  far  as  the  committee  can 
find,  it  has  never  been  settled  by  the  action  of  any  General 
Assembly.  We  find,  however,  that  at  the  organization  of  a 
church  the  members  elect  the  elders ;  thereafter  the  session 
may  nominate  for  the  office  of  elder  additional  persons  to 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  Ill 

the  church  for  election  by  the  members.  The  nominations 
of  a  session  shall  not,  however,  preclude  additional  nomina- 
tions being  made  by  any  member  of  the  church.  After  a 
person  is  so  elected  by  the  members  to  the  office  of  elder,  the 
church  session  is  convened  in  the  presence  of  the  church 
where  the  elder  and  congregation  are  each  asked  to  answer 
certain  questions  in  the  presence  of  the  other,  after  which 
the  elder  is  ordained  in  the  presence  of  the  congregation. 
The  fact  that  the  Constitution  makes  the  church  member- 
ship the  body  which  creates  all  elders  cames  with  it  the 
presumption  that,  except  in  cases  where  it  is  otherwise  ex- 
pressly provided  by  law,  the  power  that  creates  should  be 
invoked  to  undo  the  action  it  has  theretofore  taken. 

We  are  of  the  opinion  that  the  congregation  should  have 
the  right  to  act  upon  the  resignation  of  an  elder.  Your  com- 
mittee therefore  respectfully  recommends  that  this  General 
Assembly  shall  rule  that  a  rnhng  elder  should  present  his 
resignation  to  the  church  session,  that  the  session  by  proper 
order  should  refer  said  resignation  to  the  church  at  a  stated 
appointment  for  worship,  when  the  resignation  should  be 
acted  upon  by  the  members  of  the  church ;  the  action  of  the 
church  should  be  reported  back  to  the  session  and  a  minute 
of  same  be  entered  upon  its  record.  Adopted. — 1916,  p. 
114;  1917,  p.  136. 

9.  The  Session  May  Retire  an  Elder  or  Deacon. 

Constitution,  Section  47. — Yet,  a  ruling  elder  or  deacon 
may,  though  chargeable  with  neither  heresy  nor  immoral- 
ity, become  unacceptable  in  his  official  character  to  a  majori- 
ty of  the  church  which  he  serves.  In  such  a  case  it  shall  be 
the  duty  of  the  church  session,  upon  application  either  from 
the  officer  or  from  the  church,  to  dissolve  the  relation.  But 
this  shall  not  be  done  without  affording  full  opportunity  for 
the  parties  to  be  heard. 

10.  Sunday  Schools  Are  under  the  Care  of  the  Church 

Session. 

Constitution,  Section  27. — It  is  the  duty  of  the  session 
"to  establish  and  control  Sabbath  schools." 


112  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

We  recommend  that  this  General  Assembly  emphasize  to 
the  Presbyteries,  and  through  them  to  the  congregations, 
the  fact  that  all  Sabbath  schools  should  be  under  the  care 
of  church  sessions,  and  that  the  sessions  should  assume  and 
maintain  the  control  of  the  schools.    Adopted. — 1889,  p.  46. 

11.  When  a  S«ssion  May  Be  Dissolved  by  Presbytery. 

The  following  was  adopted: 

Whereas,  The  opinion  of  this  Assembly  was  respectfully 
solicited  in  respect  to  the  means  by  which  difficulties  are  to 
be  settled  in  Church  sessions ;  therefore  be  it 

Resolved :  That  the  following  answer  be  given.  The  Pres- 
bytery has  power  to  send  a  committee  to  confer  with  ses- 
sions where  difficulties  exist  and  to  settle  them  if  prac- 
ticable; if,  however,  such  difficulties  cannot  be  removed. 
Presbytery  may  dissolve  such  sessions  and  divide  the  socie- 
ties, attaching  them  to  the  most  convenient  congregations, 
the  sessions  of  which  may  deal  with  offending  members. — 
1842,  pp.  40,  41,  MSS. 

II.  THE  PRESBYTERY. 

1.  Presbytery  Organized  by  Synodical  Authority. 

Constitution,  Section  37. — The  Synod  has  power  to  create, 
divide,  or  dissolve  Presbyteries  when  deemed  expedient. 

The  papers  referred  to  us  from  parties  in  Oklahoma,  stat- 
ing that  they  had  organized  the  Presbytery  of  Oklahoma, 
and  desired  that  the  Presbytery  be  recognized  by  this  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  have  been  fully  considered.  The  memorial 
states  that  the  parties  entering  into  this  organization  were 
formerly  members  of  Wichita  Presbytery.  Nothing  appears 
in  any  of  the  papers,  showing  any  synodical  authority  for 
such  action.  But,  on  the  contrary,  there  is  a  statement  that 
the  Kansas  Synod  did  not  authorize  the  organization. 

Our  Constitution,  on  page  93,  states  explicitly  that  the 
power  to  create  a  Presbytery  belongs  exclusively  to  the 
Synod. 

We  therefore  recommend  that  you  refuse  to  recognize 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  113 

this  Presbytery  and  refer  the  whole  matter  to  Kansas  Synod. 
Adopted.— 1895,  p.  21. 

Your  Committee  on  Judiciary  report  as  follows,  concern- 
ing the  formation  of  the  Presbytery  of  Seattle,  a  matter  re- 
ferred to  us — viz. : 

The  Synod  is  the  proper  court,  under  our  system,  to  au- 
thorize the  organization  of  Presbyteries  (Constitution,  Sec- 
tion 37)  and  pass  upon  the  legality  of  the  organization. 

The  question  of  the  regularity  or  irregularity  of  the  erec- 
tion of  a  Presbytery  could  not  come  before  this  General  As- 
sembly before  the  Synod  had  passed  upon  the  matter. 

There  is  no  evidence  before  this  committee  that  the  Synod 
has  passed  upon  the  erection  of  Seattle  Presbytery.  There- 
fore this  matter  is  not  properly  before  us  for  consideration. 

We  therefore  recommend  that  you  decline  to  consider  the 
question  of  the  formation  of  Seattle  Presbytery.  Adopted. 
—1896,  pp.  17,  18. 

2.  Constituent  Elements  of  Presbytery. 

Constitution,  Section  29. — A  Presbyteiy  consists  of  all  the 
ordained  ministers  and  one  ruling  elder  from  each  church, 
within  a  certain  district. 

3.  What  Entitles  a  Church  to  Representation  in  Presbytery? 

Constitution,  Section  29. — Every  particuular  church  which 
is  willing  to  support  the  gospel  as  God  has  prospered  it,  shall 
be  entitled  to  be  represented  by  a  ruling  elder  in  Presbytery. 

4.  What  Constitutes  a  Quorum  in  Presbytery? 

Constitution,  Section  30. — Any  three  ministers  belonging 
to  the  Presbytery,  being  met  at  the  time  and  place  appointed, 
shall  be  a  quorum  competent  to  proceed  to  business. 

5.  How  often  Must  Presbytery  Meet? 

Constitution,  Section  33. — The  Presbytery  shall  meet  as 
often  as  once  a  year  on  its  own  adjournment. 

Your  committee  is  decided  in  the  opinion  that  a  Presby- 
tery may  hold  annual  or  semi-annual  sessions,  but  not  bi- 
ennial sessions. — 1872,  p.  20. 


114  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

6.  Provision  for  Failure  of  Presbytery  to  Meet  at  the  Time 
to  Which  It  Stood  Adjourned. 

Constitution,  Section  34. — If,  for  any  cause,  the  Presby- 
tery shall  fail  to  meet  at  the  time  and  place  to  which  it 
stands  adjourned,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Moderator,  or 
in  case  of  his  absence,  death,  or  inability  to  act,  the  Stated 
Clerk,  or  in  case  of  his  absence,  death,  or  inability  to  act, 
any  three  ministers  belonging  to  the  Presbytery,  to  call  a 
meeting  as  early  as  practicable,  at  such  place  as  may  be 
designated  for  the  transaction  of  the  regular  business ;  and 
for  this  purpose  a  circular  letter  shall  be  sent,  as  before 
prescribed,  not  less  than  ten  days  before  the  meeting. 

7.  Special  M-eetings  of  Presbytery. 

Constitution,  Section  33. — When  an  emergency  shall  re- 
quire a  meeting  sooner  than  the  time  to  which  it  stands 
adjourned,  the  Moderator,  or,  in  case  of  his  absence,  death, 
or  inability  to  act,  the  Stated  Clerk  shall,  with  the  concur- 
rence, or  at  the  request,  of  two  ministers  and  two  ruling 
elders  of  different  churches,  call  a  special  meeting.  For  this 
purpose  he  shall  give  notice — specifying  the  particular  busi- 
ness of  the  intended  meeting — to  every  minister  belonging 
to  the  Presbytery  and  to  the  church  session  of  every  par- 
ticular church  in  due  time  previous  to  the  meeting,  which 
shall  be  not  less  than  ten  days.  And  nothing  shall  be  trans- 
acted at  such  special  meeting  besides  the  particular  business 
for  which  the  Presbytery  has  been  thus  convened. 

8.  Who  Are  Members  of  Called  Meetings? 

General  Regulations,  Section  8. — Called  meetings  of 
church  courts  above  the  church  session  shall  be  composed  of 
the  same  members,  or  their  alternates,  constituting  the  pre- 
ceding stated  meeting  of  the  same  court,  unless  the  con- 
stitutent  body  shall  designate  some  one  else  as  a  representa- 
tive to  such  called  meeting. 

9.  Moderator  of  Presbytery. 

(Note. — See  "Moderators  of  the  Church  Courts."  Page 
103,  et  seq.) 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  115 

10.  stated  Clerk  of  Presbytery. 

(Note.— See  General  Regulations,  Section  2,  and  Rules  of 
Order,  Section  15,  16,  under  "Clerks  of  Church  Courts." 
New  Cumberland  Digest,  p.  104.) 

We  further  recommend  that,  as  a  matter  of  convenience 
in  the  transaction  of  business  between  your  Stated  Clerk  and 
the  Presbyteries,  the  Presbyteries,  when  practicable,  shall 
select  the  same  person  Clerk  and  Treasurer.  Adopted. — 
1897,  p.  63. 

That  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Stated  Clerks  of  Presby- 
teries to  report  to  the  Presbyteries  the  names  of  the  clerKs 
of  church  sessions  who  fail  to  discharge  their  obligations  in 
this  particular,  and  that  the  Presbyteries  be  directed  to  urge 
upon  church  sessions  the  removal  of  inefficient  clerks  of 
sessions  and  the  appointment  of  faithful  ones  in  their  stead. 
Adopted.— 1889,  p.  52. 

11.  Advisory  Members  and  Visiting  Brethren  in  Presbytery. 

General  Regulations,  Section  9. — Ministers  in  good  stand- 
ing in  other  Presbyteries,  or  in  any  ecclesiastical  body  with 
which  this  Church  has  established  correspondence,  being 
present  at  any  meeting  of  a  Presbytery  or  Synod,  may  be 
invited  to  sit  and  deliberate  as  advisory  members.  Ministers 
of  like  standing  in  other  evangelical  Churches  may  be  in- 
vited to  sit  as  visiting  brethren.  It  is  proper  for  the  Mod- 
erator appropriately  to  introduce  these  ministers. 

12.  Powers  of  Presbytery. 

Constitution,  Section  31. — The  Presbytery  has  the  power 
to  examine  and  decide  appeals,  complaints,  and  references 
brought  before  it  in  an  orderly  manner ;  to  receive,  examine, 
dismiss,  and  license  candidates  for  the  holy  ministry ;  to  re- 
ceive, dismiss,  ordain,  install,  remove,  and  judge  ministers ; 
to  review  the  records  of  the  church  sessions,  redress  what- 
ever they  may  have  done  contrary  to  order,  and  take  effect- 
ual care  that  they  observe  the  government  of  the  Church ; 
to  establish  the  pastoral  relation  and  to  dissolve  it,  at  the 
request  of  one  or  both  of  the  parties,  or  where  the  interests 
of  religion  imperatively  demand  it;  to  set  apart  evangelists 
to  their  proper  work ;  to  require  ministers  to  devote  them- 


116  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

selves  diligently  to  their  sacred  calling  and  to  censure  and 
otherwise  discipline  the  delinquent;  to  see  that  the  injunc- 
tions of  the  higher  courts  are  obeyed ;  to  condemn  erroneous 
opinions  which  injure  the  purity  or  peace  of  the  Church;  to 
resolve  questions  of  doctrine  and  discipline  seriously  and 
reasonably  proposed ;  to  visit  particular  churches,  to  inquire 
into  their  condition,  and  redress  the  evils  that  may  have 
arisen  in  them ;  to  unite  or  divide  churches,  with  the  consent 
of  a  majority  of  the  members  thereof,  and,  for  cause,  to  dis- 
solve the  relation  between  it  and  a  particular  church,  which 
shall  thereafter  cease  to  be  a  constituent  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  forfeits  all  rights  as  such;  to 
form  and  receive  new  churches ;  to  take  special  oversight  of 
vacant  churches;  to  concert  measures  for  the  enlargement 
of  the  Church  within  its  bounds ;  in  general,  to  order  what- 
ever pertains  to  the  spiritual  welfare  of  the  churches  under 
its  care;  to  appoint  representatives  to  the  higher  courts; 
and,  finally,  to  propose  to  the  Synod  or  to  the  General  As- 
sembly such  measures  as  may  be  of  common  advantage  to 
the  Church  at  large. 

(1)  Presbytery  Has  the  Power  to  Receive  Ministers. 

There  are  but  two  ways  by  which  a  man  can  become  a 
member  of  a  Pi-esbytery:  (1)  By  regular  process  of  trial, 
licensure,  and  ordination,  whereby  he  is  constituted  a  min- 
ister of  Jesus  Christ;  (2)  by  a  letter  of  dismission  and  rec- 
ommendation from  one  Presbytery  to  another. 

To  constitute  a  man  a  minister  of  Christ  and  clothe  him 
with  full  ecclesiastical  authority,  by  a  simple  declaration  or 
resolution,  is  wholly  unknown  to  the  Constitution  of  our 
Church,  and  is  without  precedent.    Adopted. — 1858,  p.  19. 

General  Regulations,  Section  7. — Ministers  from  other  de- 
nominations seeking  admission  to  a  Presbytery  shall  be  ex- 
amined touching  their  views  in  theology  and  upon  Church 
government;  shall  be  required  to  answer  in  the  affirmative 
the  questions  put  to  the  licentiates  at  their  ordination ;  and 
shall,  in  other  respects,  satisfy  the  Presbytery  of  their  fit- 
ness for  the  gospel  ministry. 

Can  any  one  become  a  minister  and  member  of  a  Presby- 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  117 

tery  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  without  adopt- 
ing the  Confession  of  Faith  and  Form  of  Government  of 
the  Church? 

Answer:  He  cannot.     Adopted. — 1873,  p.  30. 

(a)  A  minister  can  transfer  his  membership  by  letter  only. 

Rules  of  Discipline,  Section  98. — No  minister  or  proba- 
tioner, a  member  of  a  Presbytery,  shall  be  admitted  to  mem- 
bership in  another  Presbytery  without  a  letter  of  dismission 
from  the  Presbytery  to  which  he  belongs,  or  from  the  Synod 
of  which  said  Presbytery  is  a  constituent  part. 

(b)  A  minister  cannot  be  received  "on  the  faith  of  a 
forthcoming  letter." 

Your  Committee  on  the  Minutes  of  the  Ohio  Synod  would 
report  that  we  have  had  in  our  hands  the  records  of  1878 
and  1879.  We  find  in  them  no  record  of  a  departure  from 
our  standards,  except  (page  22,  records  1879)  that  the  Synod 
authorizes  the  Stated  Clerk  of  the  Muskingum  Presbytery 
to  receive  and  enroll,  as  a  member  of  said  Presbytery,  any 
one  presenting  to  him  a  letter  of  dismission  and  recommen- 
dation. This  your  committee  thinks  is  not  Presbyterian. 
Approved.— 1880,  p.  16. 

The  reception  and  the  dismission  of  ministers  are  Presby- 
terial  acts.  The  Constitution,  Section  81,  says  that  the 
Presbytery  has  power  to  "receive"  and  "dismiss"  ministers. 
In'General  Regulations,  Section  6,  the  foiTn  of  the  letter  to 
be  given  a  minister  closes  as  follows:  "Given  by  order  of 

said  Presbytery,  this  day  of ,  A.D.  ."     This 

clearly  shows  that  the  Presbytery  must  be  in  session  on  the 
day  on  which  the  letter  is  dated. 

A  great  deal  of  looseness  has  grown  up  on  account  of  Pres- 
byteries' directing  their  clerks  to  give  letters  "if  called 
for,"  and  by  receiving  ministers  "  on  the  faith  of  a  forth- 
coming letter,"  as  shown  by  the  report  of  the  Stated  Clerk, 
it  appearing  that  eight  ministers  are  reported,  each  being 
a  member  of  two  Presbyteries  at  the  same  time.  This  prac- 
tice is  clearly  contrary  to  the  law.  In  1880  (Minutes,  p.  16) 
the  Assembly  held  that  the  Stated  Clerk  of  a  certain  Pres- 
bytery could  not  "receive  and  enroll,  as  a  member  of  said 


118  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

Presbytery,  any  one  presenting  to  him  a  letter  of  dismis- 
sion and  recommendation." 

If  a  clerk  cannot  "receive  and  enroll,"  he  certainly  cannot 
issue  a  letter  "if  called  for."  The  one  calling  for  a  letter 
on  such  conditions  is  either  a  member  of  the  Presbytery 
when  it  adjourns  or  he  is  not.  If  he  is  not,  there  could  arise 
no  occasion  later  for  his  calling  for  a  letter.  If  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Presbytery  on  its  adjournment,  the  granting 
of  a  letter  by  the  Stated  Clerk  is  not  a  Presbyterial  act, 
and  hence  is  contrary  to  the  law. 

(2)  Presbytery  Has  the  Power  to  Receive  and  License 
Probationers. 

Constitution,  Section  50,  51. — ^The  Holy  Scriptures  require 
that  those  who  are  to  be  ordained  to  the  ministry  shall 
previously  undergo  a  suitable  trial,  in  order  that  this  office 
may  not  be  degraded  by  being  committed  to  weak  or  un- 
worthy men,  and  that  opportunity  may  be  afforded  to  form 
a  correct  judgment  respecting  the  talents  of  those  seeking 
admission  to  this  office.  For  this  purpose  Presbyteries  shall 
receive  and  license  probationers  to  preach  the  gospel,  that, 
after  a  competent  trial  of  their  talents,  they  may  in  due 
time  be  ordained. 

51.  Presbyteries,  in  receiving  probationers,  shall  require 
satisfactory  testimonials  of  their  good  moral  character  and 
regular  membership  in  some  particular  church.  It  is  the 
duty  of  the  Presbytery,  for  its  satisfaction  with  regard  to 
the  real  piety  of  each  probationer,  to  examine  him  respect- 
ing his  experimental  acquaintance  with  religion,  the  motives 
which  influence  him  to  desire  the  sacred  office  and  his  in- 
ternal call  to  this  important  work. 

(a)  Qualifications  for  licensure. 

Constitution,  Section  52. — Probationers  shall  be  required 
before  licensure  to  produce  satisfactory  evidence  of  having 
received  at  least  a  good  English  education ;  and,  in  order  to 
make  trial  of  their  talents,  the  Presbytery  shall  require  a 
written  discourse  on  some  common  head  of  divinity,  from 
time  to  time,  until  it  shall  be  satisfied  as  to  their  piety  and 
aptness  to  teach ;  and  they  may  also  be  required  to  present 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  119 

a  recommendation  from  the  church  session  of  the  particular 
church  of  which  they  are  members.  They  shall  also  be  re- 
quired to  exercise  their  gifts  in  public  exhortation  and  shall 
be  carefully  examined  on  revealed  theology  before  they  are 
licensed. 

(b)  Licensing  Candidates. 

Constitution,  Section  53. — Before  the  Presbytery  pro- 
ceeds to  license  the  candidate,  a  minister  appointed  to  pre- 
side shall  propose  to  him  the  following  questions : 

1.  Do  you  believe  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  the  New 
Testament  to  be  the  Word  of  God,  the  only  infallible  rule  of 
faith  and  practice? 

2.  Do  you  sincerely  receive  and  adopt  the  Confession  of 
Faith  and  the  Catechism  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church  as  containing  the  system  of  doctrines  taught  in  the 
Holy  Scriptures? 

3.  Do  you  promise  to  study  the  peace,  unity,  and  purity 
of  the  Church? 

4.  Do  you  promise  to  submit  yourself,  in  the  Lord,  to  this 
Presbytery,  or  to  any  other  Presbytery  of  this  Church, 
under  the  care  of  which  you  may  be? 

The  candidate  having  answered  the  questions  in  the  af- 
firmative, the  presiding  minister,  having  offered  a  prayer 
suitable  to  the  occasion,  shall  address  the  candidate  to  the 
following  puiTport:  In  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
and  by  the  authority  which  he  has  given  to  his  Church  for 
its  edification,  we  do  license  you  to  preach  the  gospel,  as  a 
probationer,  in  the  bounds  of  this  Presbytery,  or  wherever 
God,  in  his  providence,  may  cast  your  lot ;  and  for  this  pur- 
pose may  the  blessing  of  God  rest  upon  you  and  the  spirit 
of  Christ  fill  your  heart.    Amen. 

Proper  record  of  the  licensure  shall  be  made. 

(c)  A  candidate  without  a  letter. 

Is  it  legal,  if  a  candidate  for  the  ministry  under  the  care 
of  a  Presbytery  has  moved  within  the  bounds  of  another 
Presbytery,  without  a  letter  of  dismission,  for  this  Presby- 
tery to  receive  said  candidate  under  its  care,  as  a  candidate 
for  the  ministry,  and  license  him,  without  first  correspond- 


120  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

ing  with  the  Presbytery  from  which  he  came?  Answer:  It 
is  not.    Adopted.— 1871,  p.  29. 

(d)  A  candidate  or  licentiate  responsible  to  the  session 
for  his  conduct. 

"Before  what  tribunal  shall  a  candidate  or  licentiate  be 
tried  for  immoral  conduct?" 

We  answer  that  his  probation  as  a  candidate  or  licentiate 
may,  for  any  cause,  be  discontinued  by  the  Presbytery ;  but 
he  should  be  tried  for  immoral  conduct  by  the  session  of 
that  congregation  of  which  he  is  a  member.  Adopted. — 
1866,  p.  50. 

(e)  When  a  licentiate  is  dropped  from  the  roll  of  the  Pres- 
bytery, he  is  no  longer  a  licentiate ;  therefore  no  Presbytery 
has  a  right  to  receive  him  as  such.    Adopted. — 1917,  p.  136. 

(f)  Name  of  probationer  may  be  dropped  without  assign- 
ing any  reason  for  the  action. 

Constitution,  Section  54. — When  the  services  of  a  proba- 
tioner do  not  appear  to  be  edifying  to  the  church,  or  when 
the  Presbytery  may,  for  any  other  reason,  deem  it  advisable 
to  do  so,  it  may  recall  his  license  or  drop  his  name  from  the 
list  of  probationers  without  assigning  the  reason  therefor; 
and  it  shall  be  its  duty  to  do  so  whenever  the  probationer 
shall,  without  necessity,  devote  himself  to  such  pursuits  as 
interfere  with  a  full  trial  of  his  gifts  and  a  proper  prepara- 
tion for  the  work  of  the  ministry. 

(g)  May  licentiates  perform  the  mamage  ceremony? 
Whereas,  the  lUinois  Pi-esbytery  has  presented  a  request 

for  the  opinion  of  this  General  Assembly,  relative  to  the  au- 
thority of  licentiates  to  solemnize  the  rite  of  matrimony; 
therefore  be  it 

Resolved:  That  this  house  is  of  the  opinion  that  it  is 
the  privilege  of  the  several  Presbyteries  to  act  in  the  matter, 
agreeably  to  the  laws  of  their  respective  States.  Adopted. — 
1830,  pp.  28,  29,  Mss. 

Resolved:  That  licensed  preachers  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church  possess  every  requisite  qualification  to 
perfomi  the  rite  of  matrimony,  except  where  provision  is 
made  to  the  contrary  in  the  laws  of  the  States.  Adopted. 
—1862,  p.  62. 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  121 

The  Foster  Presbytery  submits  the  following  question: 

"Have  licensed  probationers  for  the  gospel  ministry,  in 
the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  the  authority  to 
solemnize  the  holy  rite  of  matrimony?" 

Your  committee  answer  this  question  as  follows: 

The  only  provision  on  this  subject  contained  in  our  book 
of  Church  Government  is  as  follows:  "Marriage  is  not  a 
sacrament  or  peculiar  to  the  Church  of  Christ."  It  is  proper 
that  every  commonwealth,  for  the  good  of  society,  make 
laws  to  regulate  the  marriage  relation,  which  all  citizens  are 
bound  to  obey.  Therefore,  unless  the  statutes  of  the  State 
in  which  the  marriage  is  to  take  place  shall  authorize  li- 
censed probationers  to  solemnize  the  marriage  relation,  then 
said  probationers  in  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church 
shall  not  have  such  authority.  But  where  such  authority  is 
conferred  by  the  statutes  of  the  State,  then  they  may  sol- 
emnize the  rite  of  matrimony.    Adopted. — 1887,  p.  38. 

(h)  May  a  probationer  serve  as  a  ruling  elder? 

Resolved:  That  candidates  for  the  ministry  be  not  ad- 
mitted, in  the  future,  to  seats  in  Presbyteries  or  Synods,  as 
representatives  from  churches. — From  Minutes  of  Cumber- 
land Synod,  October,  1824. 

The  following  appears  as  the  action  of  the  Synod  on  the 
reports  made  from  the  Presbyteries: 

Whereas,  A  resolution  of  a  former  Synod  was  sent  by  the 
last  Synod  to  the  different  Presbyteries  for  their  concur- 
rence, which  has  now  been  obtained  from  more  than  two- 
thirds  of  the  Presbyteries,  it  therefore  becomes  a  law,  the 
substance  of  which  is :  "That  no  licentiate  or  candidate  for 
the  ministry  should  have  a  seat  in  Presbytery  or  Synod,  but 
that  he  may  exercise  that  office  in  church  sessions." — From 
Minutes  of  Cumberland  Synod,  October,  1828. 

The  Committee  on  Judiciary  beg  leave  to  report  that  they 
have  duly  considered  the  resolution  offered  by  Rev.  J.  R. 
Lowrance  and  referi^d  to  them  and  respectfully  submit  that 
a  ruling  elder,  by  becoming  a  candidate  for  the  ministry, 
does  not  cease  to  be  a  ruling  elder  in  his  congregation,  but 
they  deem  it  expedient  for  a  ruling  elder,  on  becoming  a 
candidate  for  the  ministry,  to  resign  his  office  of  ruling 
elder.— 1872,  p.  33 ;  1888,  p.  35. 


122  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

A  candidate  for  the  ministry  or  a  licentiate,  who  is  also 
a  ruling  elder,  may,  in  the  opinion  of  your  committee,  proper- 
ly be  elected  to  represent  his  congregation  in  Presbytery. 
Adopted.— 1895,  p.  42;  1919,  p.  109. 

(i)  Transfer  of  a  licentiate  without  a  letter  does  not 
vitiate  his  ordination. 

Although  the  transfer  of  a  licensed  preacher  from  one 
Presbytery  to  another  without  a  letter  of  dismission  and 
recommendation  is  irregular,  yet  a  man  ordained  under  such 
circumstances  is  truly  an  ordained  minister,  and  as  such  is 
competent  to  the  discharge  of  all  the  duties  of  his  office. 
Approved.— 1867,  p.  83. 

(j)  What  Presbytery  may  restore  a  license? 

The  Assembly  gave  a  negative  answer  to  the  following 
question : 

When  any  Presbytery,  for  reasons  satisfactory  to  itself, 
shall  withdraw  the  license  of  any  probationer,  he,  at  the 
time  of  such  act,  holding  himself  amenable  to,  and  claim- 
ing that  his  right  to  preach  is  from,  the  authority  of  said 
Presbytery,  can  any  other  Presbytery  restore  to  him  his 
license?     Answer,  No. — 1860,  p.  74. 

(k)  Board  of  Education  not  to  extend  aid  to  probationers 
who  use  tobacco. 

Resolved:  That  the  Board  of  Education  is  hereby  in- 
structed to  give  no  aid  to  any  candidate  for  the  ministry,  in 
securing  education,  who  uses  tobacco,  and  that  it  is  the  duty 
of  the  Board  of  Education  to  know,  before  aiding  any  stu- 
dent, that  he  does  not  use  tobacco.    Adopted. — 1889,  p.  51. 

(1)  Maniage  of  probationers  bef  oi-e  their  education  is  com- 
pleted to  be  discouraged  by  the  Presbyteries. 

Some  reasonable  regulation,  intelligently  and  kindly,  but 
firmly  enforced,  seems  to  be  needed.  In  isolated  cases  the 
marriage  of  a  probationer  may  seem  not  to  have  interfered 
with  his  education,  but  as  a  rule  there  can  be  no  question  as 
to  its  effect.  If  a  Presbytery  has  the  right  to  supervise  a 
probationer's  course  in  such  matters,  certainly  experience 
is  abundant  to  call  for  the  vigorous  exercise  of  Presbyterial 
authority.— 1897,  p.  89 ;  1897,  p.  35. 

(m)  Presbytery  may  license  lay  preachers. 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  123 

The  Assembly  adopted  the  following: 

"Has  a  Presbytery  the  right  to  license  exhorters  (or  lay 
preachers)  to  exercise  their  gift  in  public,  who  ask  for  Pres- 
byterial  authority  to  do  so?" 

Your  committee  is  of  opinion  that  Presbytery  has  the 
right  to  authorize  laymen  to  hold  such  public  services;  in 
other  words,  to  grant  to  laymen  the  license  implied  in  the 
Constitution,  and  in  this  sense  has  a  right  to  license  "ex- 
horters" or  "lay  preachers,"  and  they  recommend  that  this 
General  Assembly  make  a  deliverance  in  accordance  here- 
with.—1892,  p.  25 

That  you  instruct  the  Presbytery  to  make  a  clear  distinc- 
tion between  licensure  and  ordination ;  that  some  may  with 
propriety  be  hcensed  to  preach  as  evangelists,  who  should 
never  be  ordained  to  the  full  functions  of  ordained  ministers 
in  the  Church.    Adopted.— 1897,  p.  36. 

We  most  respectfully  recommend  that  you  request  the 
Synods  to  urge  the  Presbyteries  earnestly  to  consider  the 
advisability  of  simply  licensing  to  pi-each,  as  lay  workers, 
those  who  fall  far  short  of  our  standard,  and  whose  age  and 
circumstances  are  such  as  to  render  it  practically  impossible 
for  them  ever  to  come  up  to  the  requirements,  at  the  same 
time  considering  all  the  surroundings  and  treating  with  due 
courtesy  all  concerned.    Adopted. — 1898,  p.  92. 

(3)  Presbytery  Has  the  PoAver  to  Ordain  Probationers  to 
the  Whole  Work  of  the  Ministry. 

Constitution,  Section  55. — As  ordination,  or  setting  apart 
to  the  whole  work  of  the  ministry,  is  investing  the  proba- 
tioner with  the  highest  ecclesiastical  office,  the  Presbyteries 
are  required  to  be  careful  to  ordain  no  one  until  fully  satis- 
fied with  his  qualifications  for  so  important  a  work. 

Presbyteries  shall  not  feel  bound  to  ordain  a  licentiate 
because  he  has  long  been  licensed,  nor  to  continue  him  on 
probation  longer  than  he  promises  usefulness. 

(a)  Trials  for  ordination. — Course  of  study. 

Constitution,  Section  56. — When  a  licentiate  shall  have 
preached  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Presbytery,  then  it  may 


124  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

take  steps  for  his  ordination,  observing  the  principles  of, 
and  (acting)  agreeably  to,  the  following  rules : 

Trials  for  ordination  shall  consist  of  a  careful  and  sat- 
isfactoiy  examination  of  the  licentiate,  before  the  Presby- 
tery, or  a  committee  thei"eof,  upon  experimental  religion, 
his  internal  call  to  the  ministry,  his  knowledge  of  geography, 
English  grammar,  philosophy,  astronomy,  ecclesiastical  his- 
tory, the  Holy  Scriptures,  natural  and  revealed  theology,  and 
the  government  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. 

In  addition  to  these  branches  of  literature,  which  are  in- 
dispensable, it  is  earnestly  recommended  that  the  Presby- 
teries use  their  best  exertions  to  promote  and  encourage 
among  their  probationers  the  acquiring  of  a  complete  knowl- 
edge of  the  original  languages,  especially  the  Greek  and  the 
Hebrew,  the  utility  of  which,  to  a  minister  of  the  Word,  is 
hereby  unequivocally  declared. 

In  order  to  make  trial  of  his  talents  to  explain,  vindicate, 
and  practically  enforce  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel,  the  Pres- 
bytery shall  require  of  the  licentiate,  before  ordination,  such 
written  or  extempore  discourse  founded  on  the  Word  of 
God  as  the  Presbytery  shall  deem  proper. 

We  recommend  that  you  urge  upon  your  Presbyteries  the 
necessity  of  withholding  ordination  from  our  young  men 
while  pursuing  their  course  in  the  Theological  School,  and 
that  all  the  candidates  and  licentiates  be  urged  to  take  a 
theological  course  before  entering  upon  the  full  work  of 
the  ministry.    Adopted. — 1895,  p.  40. 

The  following  was  adopted: 

Whereas,  the  Constitution  of  our  Church  (section  56) 
prescribes  the  standard  of  literary  attainment  to  be  reached 
by  licentiates  preparatory  to  ordination,  and  emphatically 
states  that  a  knowledge  of  the  branches  of  literature  therein 
enumerated  is  indispensable  to  ordination;  and  whereas,  it 
is  the  habit  of  many  of  our  Presbyteries  to  disregard  often 
this  requirement  of  the  Constitution,  and,  by  laying  hands 
on  men  who  have  not  reached  the  standard  required,  to 
thrust  into  the  ranks  of  the  ministry  incompetent  men; 
therefore  be  it 

Resolved :  That  we  recommend  to  this  General  Assembly 
that  it  instruct  the  Synods  under  its  jurisdiction  to  make 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  125 

more  careful  observation  of  the  work  of  Presbyteries  touch- 
ing this  matter,  and  where  Presbyteries  are  found  acting  in 
violation  of  this  law  of  the  Church  to  administer  to  them  a 
severe  reprimand,  and,  if  this  fails  to  correct  the  evil,  to 
proceed  to  dissolve  said  Presbytery  and  distribute  their  min- 
isters and  churches  among  other  Presbyteries,  according  to 
the  wisdom  of  the  Synod  so  acting. — 1892,  p.  37. 

(b)  The  Assembly  should  inquire  into  ordinations. 

Constitution,  Section  43. — The  General  Assembly  shall 
have  power  to  take  care  that  the  inferior  courts  obsei*ve  the 
Government  of  the  Church. 

We  rejoice  because  of  the  gi'owing  tendency  among  our 
people  to  recognize  the  necessity  of  greater  prei>aration, 
and  that  we  are  showing  a  greater  interest  in  the  schools 
of  our  Church.  While  we  as  a  committee  are  not  to  deal 
directly  with  the  subject  of  education,  in  a  general  way,  yet 
we  feel  that  the  importance  of  the  subject  is  such  that  we 
desire  to  emphasize  the  fact  that  our  ministers  need  and 
should  have  all  the  education  called  for  in  our  Confession 
of  Faith,  which  is  described  as  "  A  good  Enghsh  education." 
This  surely  means  that  our  ministers  should  attain  to  at 
least  a  full  high  school  course  of  four  years,  which  we  be- 
lieve to  be  indispensable ;  to  this  should  be  added  all  informa- 
tion obtainable  until  they  have  acquired  a  "complete  knowl- 
edge of  the  original  languages,  especially  the  Greek  and  He- 
brew, the  utility  of  which,  to  a  minister  of  the  Word,  is 
hereby  unequivocally  declared." 

Therefore  we  make  the  plain  statement  that  all  students 
entering  our  theological  schools  for  the  Classical  or  English 
course  must  have  completed  at  least  the  equivalent  of  a  four- 
years'  high  school  course.  However,  we  do  not  wish  to 
hinder  any  minister  from  securing  all  possible  advantages 
toward  an  education,  and  believe  that  any  student  of  mature 
years  who  is  advanced  sufficiently  to  understand  the  special 
course  desired  shall  be  permitted  to  take  such  special  course 
as  the  faculty  may  decide  proper  for  him.  Any  man  who 
has  been  ordained  by  his  Presbytery  to  preach  the  Word 
will  be  better  prepared  to  teach  our  doctrines  after  a  special 
course  than  he  will  be  without  instruction. — 1916,  p.  108. 


126  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

We  therefore  recommend:  That  it  be  enjoined  on  all  the 
Presbyteries  to  abstain  from  licensing  men  whose  education 
is  not  fully  up  to  the  standard  of  our  book. — 1866,  pp.  83,  84. 

Whereas,  the  Constitution  of  our  Church  (Sec.  56)  pre- 
scribes the  standard  of  literary  attainment  to  be  reached 
by  licentiates  preparatory  to  ordination,  and  emphatically 
states  that  a  knowledge  of  the  branches  of  literature  there- 
in enumerated  is  indispensable  to  ordination;  and  whereas, 
it  is  the  habit  of  many  of  our  Presbyteiies  to  disregard 
often  this  requirement  of  the  Constitution,  and,  by  laying 
hands  on  men  who  have  not  reached  the  standard  required, 
to  thrust  into  the  ranks  of  the  ministry  incompetent  men; 
therefore  be  it 

Resolved:  That  we  recommend  to  the  General  Assembly 
that  it  instruct  the  Synods  under  its  jurisdiction  to  make 
more  careful  observation  of  the  work  of  the  Presbyteries 
touching  this  matter,  and  where  Presbyteries  are  found 
acting  in  violation  of  this  law  of  the  Church  to  administer 
to  them  a  severe  reprimand,  and,  if  this  fails  to  correct  tlie 
evil,  to  proceed  to  dissolve  said  Presbyteries  and  distribute 
their  ministers  and  churches  among  other  Presbyteries,  ac- 
cording to  the  wisdom  of  the  Synod  so  acting. — 1897,  p.  36. 

(c)  Ordination  by  a  commission. 

General  Regulations,  Section  15. — The  commission  for  the 
ordination  of  a  minister  shall  always  consist  of  a  quorum  of 
the  court,  but  the  Presbytery  itself  shall  conduct  the  pre- 
vious examinations. 

(d)  Ordination  service. 

Constitution,  Section  57. — The  Presbytery,  being  fully 
satisfied  with  the  qualifications  of  the  licentiate,  shall  fix  a 
day  and  make  suitable  preparation  for  his  ordination 

At  the  time  appointed,  the  Presbytery  being  convened,  a 
sermon  adapted  to  the  occasion  shall  be  preached  by  a  min- 
ister previously  appointed.  The  same,  or  some  other  min- 
ister appointed  to  preside,  shall  then  briefly  recite  from  the 
pulpit  the  preparatory  proceedings  of  the  Presbytery  and 
point  out  the  nature  and  importance  of  the  transaction. 
Then,  addressing  himself  to  the  licentiate,  he  shall  propound 
the  following  questions: 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  127 

I.  Do  you  believe  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testa- 
ment to  be  the  Word  of  God,  the  only  infallible  rule  of  faith 
and  practice? 

II.  Do  you  sincerely  receive  and  adopt  the  Confession  of 
Faith  and  the  Catechism  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church  as  containing  the  system  of  doctrines  taught  in  the 
Holy  Scriptures? 

III.  Do  you  approve  the  government  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church? 

IV.  Do  you  promise  subjection  to  your  brethren  in  the 
Lord? 

V.  Have  you  been  induced  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  as  far  as 
you  know  your  own  heart,  to  seek  the  office  of  the  holy  min- 
istry from  love  to  God,  a  desire  to  do  his  will,  to  promote  his 
glory  in  the  gospel  of  his  Son,  and  the  salvation  of  your 
fellow-men  ? 

VI.  Do  you  promise  to  be  zealous  and  faithful,  as  God  may 
enable  you,  in  maintaining  the  truths  of  the  gospel  and  the 
purity  and  peace  of  the  Church,  whatever  persecution  or  op- 
position may  arise  unto  you  on  that  account  ? 

VII.  Do  you  engage  to  be  faithful  and  diligent  in  the  ex- 
ercise of  all  your  duties  as  a  Christian  and  as  a  minister 
of  the  gospel,  whether  personal  or  relative,  private  or  public; 
and  to  endeavor,  by  the  grace  of  God,  to  adorn  the  profes- 
sion of  the  gospel  ministry  in  your  conversation,  and  to  walk 
with  exemplary  piety  before  the  Church  and  before  the 
world  ? 

The  licentiate  having  answered  these  questions  in  the 
affirmative,  the  presiding  minister  shall  require  him  to  kneel ; 
then  the  ministers  of  this  Church  present  shall,  by  prayer 
led  by  the  presiding  minister,  and  with  the  laying  on  of 
hands,  according  to  the  apostolic  example,  solemnly  ordain 
him  to  the  holy  office  of  the  gospel  ministry.  Prayer  be- 
ing ended,  he  shall  rise,  and  the  presiding  minister  shall 
first,  and  afterwards  the  other  ministers  shall  each,  take  him 
by  the  right  hand,  saying  in  words  to  this  purpose :  We  give 
you  the  right  hand  of  fellowship  to  take  part  in  this  ministry 
with  us.    After  which  the  minister  presiding,  or  some  other 


128  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

appointed  for  the  purpose,  shall  then,  by  prayer,  recommend 
him  to  the  grace  of  God  and  to  his  holy  keeping. 

The  transaction  shall  be  duly  recorded  in  the  presbyterial 
minutes. 

(e)  Prayer  and  charge,  in  ordination,  must  not  be 
omitted. 

If  the  Presbytery  (Sangamon)  did  fail  to  dehver  the 
charge  and  prayer,  prescribed  in  the  book  of  discipline — 
Form  of  Government,  chapter  15,  Section  6 — then  there  was 
an  irregularity,  and  in  that  event  the  appeal  should  be  sus- 
tained. But  if  the  charge  was  delivered  and  the  prayer  of- 
fered, and  the  fact  merely  not  recorded,  then  it  would  be 
only  an  omission  or  error  in  the  record.  Adopted. — 1864,  p. 
138. 

(f)  Ordination  on  the  Sabbath  day. 

Is  it  a  violation  of  the  spirit  of  Presbyterianism  for  a 
Presbytery  to  ordain  a  probationer  to  the  work  of  the  min- 
istry on  the  Sabbath  ?  This  question  was  "answered  by  the 
Assembly  in  the  negative." — 1872,  p.  29. 

The  Committee  on  Judiciary  beg  leave  to  report  that  they 
have  duly  considered  the  questions  referred  to  them  on  the 
recommendation  of  the  Committee  on  the  Minutes  of  Sanga- 
mon Synod — namely:  "May  a  Presbytery  ordain  a  minister 
on  the  Sabbath  day?"  This  question  we  answer  in  the 
affirmative.    It  was  so  decided  in  1872.— 1877,  p.  20. 

(4)  Presbytery  Has  the  Power  to  Decide  Appeals  and 
Complaints. 

Constitution,  Section  31. — The  Presbytery  has  the  power 
to  examine  and  decide  appeals,  complaints,  and  references 
brought  before  it  in  an  orderly  manner. 

(5)  Presbytery  Has  the  Power  to  Judge  Ministers. 

Constitution,  Section  31. — The  Presbytery  has  power  to 
judge  ministers. 

Rules  of  Discipline,  Sections  7-13. — Original  jurisdiction 
in  relation  to  ministers  pertains  exclusively  to  the  Presby- 
tery,  and  in  relation  to  other  church  members  to  the  church 
session. 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  129 

It  is  the  duty  of  church  sessions  and  Presbyteries  to  ex- 
ercise care  over  those  subject  to  their  authority,  and  with 
due  dihgence  demand  satisfactory  explanations  from  them 
conceniing  reports  affecting  their  Christian  character,  es- 
pecially when  those  aggrieved  by  injurious  reports  shall  ask 
an  investigation.  If  such  investigation,  however  originat- 
ing, should  result  in  raising  a  strong  presumption  of  guilt, 
the  court  should  order  process,  and  appoint  a  prosecutor  to 
prepare  the  charges  and  conduct  the  case. 

8.  An  injured  party  shall  not  become  a  prosecutor  of  per- 
sonal offenses  without  having  previously  tried  the  means  of 
reconciliation  and  of  reclaiming  the  offender,  required  by 
Christ,  Matthew  xviii.  15,  16.  A  Church  court,  however, 
may  judicially  investigate  personal  offenses  as  if  general, 
when  the  interests  of  religion  seem  to  demand  it.  So,  also, 
those  to  whom  private  offenses  are  known  cannot  become 
prosecutors  without  having  pi^viously  endeavored  to  re- 
move the  scandal  by  private  means. 

9.  When  the  offense  is  general,  the  prosecution  may  be 
conducted  by  any  person  appearing  as  prosecutor,  or  by 
some  one  appointed  as  such  by  the  court. 

10.  When  the  prosecution  is  instituted  by  the  court,  the 
previous  steps  required  in  cases  of  personal  offenses  are  not 
necessary,  but  in  all  cases  a  committee  should  first  converse 
in  a  private  manner  with  the  offender  and  endeavor  to  bring 
him  to  a  sense  of  his  guilt. 

11.  Great  caution  must  be  exercised  in  receiving  accusa- 
tions from  any  person  known  to  indulge  a  malignant  spirit 
toward  the  accused,  or  who  is  not  of  good  character;  who 
is  himself  under  censure  or  process ;  who  is  deeply  interested 
in  any  respect  in  the  conviction  of  the  accused;  or  who  is 
known  to  be  litigious,  rash,  or  highly  imprudent. 

12.  Every  voluntary  prosecutor  must  be  previously  warned 
that  if  he  fails  to  show  probable  cause  for  the  charges,  he 
must  himself  be  censured  as  a  slanderer  of  the  brethren. 
None  but  members  of  the  Church  shall  be  allowed  to  become 
prosecutors. 

13.  When  a  member  of  a  Church  court  is  under  process, 


130  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

all  his  official  functions  may  be  suspended  at  its  discretion, 
but  not  in  the  way  of  censure. 

(a)  Power  to  censure  a  minister  belongs  to  Presbytery. 
We  (Oregon  Presbytery)  ask  you  to  declare,  judicially, 

that  a  Synod  has  no  constitutional  right  to  take  the  case 
of  a  member  under  censure  out  of  the  hands  of  the  Presby- 
tery that  passed  the  censure;  especially  while  the  member 
under  censure  resides  in  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery  that 
censured  him. 

The  Assembly  answered:  "The  Synod  has  no  such  power." 
—1863,  p.  77. 

(b)  Power  to  remove  a  suspension. 

Resolved:  That  the  act  of  the  Memphis  Presbytery  in 
receiving,  and  thereby  conferring  upon  John  A.  Dewoody 
all  the  privileges  of  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  whilst  he  was 
under  suspension  by  the  decision  of  the  Tennessee  Presby- 
tery, is  not  in  accordance  with  the  discipline  and  govern- 
ment of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church;  and  there- 
fore said  act  is  hereby  declared  null  and  void.  Adopted. — 
1855,  p.  49. 

Resolved:  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  General  Assembly, 
as  expressed  substantially  by  the  Assembly  two  years  ago 
(1855,  p.  49),  that  it  is  highly  improper,  disorderly,  and  sub- 
versive of  the  government  of  our  Church  for  any  Presby- 
tery to  receive  as  a  member  or  recognize  any  man  as  an 
orderly  minister  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church 
against  whom  a  sentence  of  suspension  or  deposition  has 
been  pronounced,  until  said  sentence  has  been  legally  re- 
voked or  withdrawn.    Adopted. — 1857,  p.  61. 

(c)  Presbytery  has  power  to  rescind  its  act. 

Resolved:  1.  That  the  Memphis  Presbytery  did  act  un- 
constitutionally in  declaring  J.  A.  Dewoody  a  member  of 
said  Presbytery,  and  restored  to  the  ministry,  while  he 
stood  deposed  by  the  Tennessee  Presbytery. 

2.  That  it  is  constitutional  and  proper  for  Memphis  Pres- 
bytery to  rescind  her  act,  in  obedience  to  the  request  of 
West  Tennessee  Synod,  purporting  to  restore  J.  A.  Dewoody. 
—1858,  pp.  18-20. 

We  (Oregon  Presbytery)  ask  you  to  declare  that  it  is  the 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  131 

constitutional  right  of  the  Presbytery  that  censures  a  mem- 
ber to  remove  said  censure;  and  that  it  cannot  be  done  by 
any  other  body,  and  especially  while  the  censured  person 
resides  out  of  their  bounds. 

The  Assembly  answered:  "Such  right  is  vested  alone  in 
the  Presbytery  passing  the  censure."  — 1863,  p.  77. 

(6)  Presbytery  Has  the  Power  to  Decide  Questions  of 

Doctrine. 

Constitution,  Section  31.— The  Presbytery  has  power  to 
resolve  questions  of  doctrine  and  discipline  seriously  and 
reasonably  proposed. 

If  the  two  brethren  teach  the  erors  so  in  conflict  with  the 
doctrines  of  our  Church,  the  Presbytery  is  competent  to  re- 
prove or  censure,  and  to  exercise  its  constitutional  jurisdic- 
tion; no  authority  to  take  judicial  action  belongs  to  the 
General  Assembly,  except  in  case  of  appeal,  coming  regular- 
ly from  the  lower  courts.    Adopted. — 1861,  p.  17. 

(7)  Presbytery  Has  the  Power  Over  Ministers. 

Constitution,  Section  31.— The  Presbytery  has  the  power 
to  require  ministers  to  devote  themselves  to  their  sacred 
calling. 

The  General  Assembly  urged  upon  the  various  Presby- 
teries the  importance  and  propriety  of  directing  their 
preachers.— 1882,  p.  17. 

By  a  resolution  of  this  General  Assembly,  the  Judiciary 
Committee  is  directed  to  "inquire  and  report  whether,  under 
the  law,  a  Presbytery  has  any  mode  of  relieving  itself  of 
idle  preachers,  without  going  through  a  regular  trial  on 
changes,  and  if  so,  what  is  the  mode?"  In  response  to  this 
inquiry,  the  Committee  report  that  ministers  are  subject 
to  the  direction  and  control  of  their  Presbyteries,  and  that 
when  they  fail  to  perform  their  ordination  duties  they  are 
liable  to  be  dealt  with  by  that  judicatory  as  their  demerits 
may  require,  by  censure,  reprimand,  or  even  deposition.  If 
a  minister  fails  persistently  to  work  in  the  sacred  cause  to 
which  he  has  been  set  apart,  he  should  be  dealt  with  by  the 
Presbytery  in  such  manner  as  that  body  in  their  wisdom 


132  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

may  consider  best  calculated  to  bring  him  to  a  sense  of  his 
duty.  If  he  should  fail  to  hear  them  and  continue  in  the 
neglect  of  duty  and  disregard  the  admonition  of  the  Pres- 
bjrtery,  the  proper  charges,  trial,  and  penalty  should  fol- 
low.   Adopted.— 1878,  p.  31.    R.  of  D.,  Art.  43. 

Resolved:  That  the  Presbyteries  be  required  to  call  each 
minister  in  charge  of  a  congregation  to  account  for  non- 
compliance with  the  resolutions  and  edicts  of  the  Assembly. 
Adopted.— 1879,  p.  35. 

Resolved:  That  the  Pi^sbyteries  under  the  care  of  this 
General  Assembly  be  and  are  hereby  instructed  to  require 
ministers  under  their  care  diligently  to  perform  the  duties 
pertaining  to  their  sacred  calling.    Adopted. — 1894,  p.  50. 

Presbytery  has  the  authority  to  say  to  the  unemployed 
preacher :  "You  must  no  longer  be  idle,  but  go  and  feed  that 
starving  congregation  within  your  reach."  And  if  he  fails 
to  obey  and  persists  in  his  idleness,  the  Presbytery  should 
unhesitatingly  drop  his  name  from  its  roll,  as  one  whom 
God  has  not  called  to  preach  the  gospel.  Adopted. — 1895,  p. 
54. 

(8)  Presbytery  Has  the  Power  Over  Churches. 

Constitution,  Section  31. — The  Presbytery  has  the  power 
to  review  the  records  of  the  church  sessions,  redress  what- 
ever they  may  have  done  contrary  to  order,  and  take  ef- 
fectual care  that  they  observe  the  government  of  the  Church. 

Constitution,  Section  31. — The  Presbytery  has  the  power 
to  see  that  the  injunctions  of  the  higher  courts  are  obeyed. 

Constitution,  Section  31. — The  Presbytery  has  the  power, 
for  cause,  to  dissolve  the  relations  between  it  and  a  particu- 
lar church,  which  shall  thereafter  cease  to  be  a  constituent 
of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  and  forfeits  all 
rights  as  such. 

The  Presbytery  has  the  right  to  cut  off  any  congregation 
under  its  control  and  deprive  it  of  presbyterial  representa- 
tion, whenever  such  congregation  has  been  guilty  of  such 
offense  as,  in  the  judgment  of  the  Presbytery,  may  justify 
such  action.    Adopted. — 1869,  p.  34. 

Constitution,  Section  31. — The  Presbytery  has  the  power 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  133 

to  visit  particular  churches,  to  inquire  into  their  condition, 
and  redress  the  evils  that  may  have  arisen  in  them. 

The  Presbytery  has  power  to  send  committees  to  confer 
with  sessions,  where  difficulties  exist,  and  to  settle  them,  if 
practicable ;  if,  however,  such  difficulties  cannot  be  removed. 
Presbytery  may  dissolve  such  sessions  and  divide  the  con- 
gregations, attaching  them  to  the  most  convenient  congre- 
gations, the  sessions  of  which  may  deal  with  such  offend- 
ing members.    Adopted. — 1842,  p.  31.  MSS. 

(9)  Presbytery  Has  the  Power  to  Order  Whatever  Pertains 
to  the  Welfare  of  Its  Churches. 

Constitution,  Section  31. — The  Presbytery  has  the  pov/er, 
in  general,  to  order  whatever  pertains  to  the  spiritual  wel- 
fare of  the  churches  under  its  care. 

The  General  Assembly  urged  upon  the  Presbyteries  the 
importance  of  ordering  whatever  pertains  to  the  welfare  of 
their  churches. — 1882,  p.  17. 

(10)  Presbytery  Has  Control  of  the  Relation  between 
Ministers  and  Churches. 

Constitution,  Section  31. — Presbytery  has  the  power  to 
take  special  oversight  of  vacant  churches. 

Constitution,  Section  58. — No  minister  shall  take  charge 
of  a  church  as  its  pastor,  or  otherwise,  without  the  con- 
sent of  the  Presbytery  in  the  bounds  of  which  the  church 
is  located,  or  subject  to  the  approval  of  the  Presbytery  at 
its  next  stated  meeting ;  and  when  such  consent  is  obtained, 
the  parties  shall  fulfill  mutual  engagements  with  fidelity. 

Constitution,  Section  31. — Presbytery  has  the  power  to 
establish  the  pastoral  relation,  and  to  dissolve  it. 

Resolved  by  this  General  Assembly:  That  no  minister  has 
the  constitutional  right  to  take  charge  of  any  congi^gation, 
as  its  stated  supply,  without  the  consent  of  his  Presbytery, 
and  of  the  Presbytery  in  the  bounds  of  which  the  said  con- 
gregation is  located.    Adopted. — 1851,  p.  14. 


134  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

(a)  Origin  of  Pastorates  and  Supplies  Committee. 

From  the  foregoing  it  is  clear  that  the  law  of  the  Church, 
both  constitutional  and  statutory,  makes  it  the  duty  of,  and 
gives  the  power  to,  the  Presbytery  to  control  its  ministers 
and  churches.    We  therefore  recommend : 

(1)  That  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  every  Pi^sbytery,  acting 
under  the  authority  of  the  law  of  the  Church,  to  appoint  a 
Permanent  Committee  on  Pastorates  and  Supplies. 

(2)  That  sessions  of  vacant  churches,  in  all  cases,  consult 
the  Committee  on  Pastorates  and  Supplies,  before  entering 
into  an  engagement  with  a  minister  as  pastor,  or  other- 
wise, and  that  the  consent  of  the  Committee  be  obtained  be- 
fore such  engagement  be  made. 

(3)  That  no  minister  shall  take  charge  of  a  church  as  its 
pastor,  or  otherwise,  without  the  consent  of  the  Presbytery, 
or  the  approval  of  the  Committee  on  Pastorates  and  Sup- 
plies, subject  to  the  subsequent  action  of  Presbytery. 

(4)  That  no  minister  shall  take  charge  of  a  church  in  the 
bounds  of  another  Presbytery,  as  its  pastor,  or  otherwise, 
without  first  obtaining  the  consent  of  the  Presbytery  to 
which  the  church  belongs,  or,  if  between  the  meetings  of  the 
Presbytery,  without  first  obtaining  the  consent  of  the  Pres- 
bytery's Committee  on  Pastorates  and  Supplies.  In  case, 
however,  that  said  Committee  and  the  session  should  dis- 
agree, it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  session  to  supply  its  pulpit 
until  the  next  stated  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  or  a  meet- 
ing called  for  that  purpose,  when  the  Committee  and  the 
session  shall  submit  the  whole  matter  to  the  Presbytery  and 
then  abide  by  its  decision. 

(5)  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Committee  on  Pastorates 
and  Supplies,  when  it  learns  that  a  church  is  vacant,  to  call 
the  attention  of  such  church  to  this  action  of  the  General 
Assembly,  and  to  co-operate  with  the  session  in  securing  a 
minister,  and  when  there  has  been  a  failure  upon  the  part 
of  either  session  or  minister  to  comply  with  this  deliverance 
of  the  General  Assembly,  the  Committee  shall  report  the 
same  to  the  Presbyteiy.  And,  in  case  a  church  should  dis- 
regard this  order  and  employ  a  minister  from  another  Pres- 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  135 

bytery,  this  Committee  shall  notify  such  minister  of  the 
action  of  the  General  Assembly,  and  should  such  minister 
refuse  to  respect  the  authority  of  the  Committee,  it  shall  be 
the  duty  of  said  Committee  to  report  him  to  his  Presby- 
tery, also  to  report  all  the  facts  to  their  own  Presbytery. 

(6)  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Stated  Clerk  of  every  Pres- 
bytery to  send,  officially,  a  copy  of  this  deliverance  to  every 
minister  and  session  of  the  Presbytery,  and  sessions  should 
be  instructed  to  have  this  dehverance  read  in  regular  session 
meeting  and  spread  upon  their  records. — 1897,  pp.  40-42. 

(b)  Committee  on  Pastorates  and  Supplies. 

The  following  report  was  concuri-ed  in: 

Your  Committee  to  whom  were  referred  certain  resolu- 
tions as  to  pastorates,  supplies,  etc.,  beg  leave  to  submit  the 
following  resolutions: 

Resolved:  That  the  Presbyteries  under  the  care  of  this 
General  Assembly  be,  and  are  hereby,  instructed : 

1.  To  require  ministers  under  their  care  diligently  to  per- 
form the  duties  pertaining  to  their  sacred  calling. 

2.  To  require  as  far  as  possible  the  installation  of  pastors 
in  the  churches  under  their  care. 

3.  To  require  all  their  churches  which  have  no  regular 
pastors  to  consult  the  Presbytery,  or  a  regularly  constituted 
committee  thereof,  before  entering  into  an  engagement  with 
a  minister. 

4.  To  appoint  ministers  to  supply  such  churches  as  do  not 
have  regular  pastors,  or  do  not  make  request  for  the  ratifica- 
tion of  some  arrangement  for  supplies,  at  the  regular  annual 
meeting  of  Presbytery. 

5.  To  appoint  a  permanent  Committee  on  Pastorates  and 
Supplies,  to  whom  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  relation  be- 
tween ministers  and  churches,  which  require  adjustment  in 
the  interim  of  the  meetings  of  Presbytery,  shall  be  referred. 

6.  To  see  that,  as  far  as  possible,  every  church  has  a 
ister,  and  every  minister  has  a  church. 

7.  To  require  all  ministers  devoting  themselves  to  evan- 
gelistic work  to  do  so  by  authority  of  and  under  the  direc- 
tion of  the  Presbytery. — 1894,  p.  50. 


136  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

(c)  Names  of  chairmen  published. 

A  memorial  from  Sacramento  Presbytery  urges  that  the 
Assembly  require  the  Stated  Clerk  to  "insert  in  the  blanks 
sent  to  clerks  of  Presbyteries  a  place  for  the  names  of 
chairmen  of  Committees  on  Pastorates  and  Supplies,"  and 
that  the  names  be  inserted.  Further,  that  ministers  seek- 
ing places  direct  their  correspondence  to  the  congregations 
through  these  committees.  As  to  the  first  point,  your  Com- 
mittee recommend  its  adoption ;  and  as  to  the  second  point, 
we  recommend  it,  as  far  as  practicable.  Adopted. — 1896, 
p.  49. 

In  view  of  the  fact  that  the  Presbytery's  Committee  on 
Pastorates  and  Supplies  is  virtually  a  commission  represent- 
ing the  Presbytery  when  not  in  session,  we  recommend  that 
Presbyteries  should  exercise  the  greatest  care  in  selecting 
safe  and  wise  men  to  act  upon  this  very  important  Com- 
mittee.   Adopted. — 1898,  p.  52. 

(d)  Grouping  Churches. 

The  General  Assembly  adopted  the  following: 
It  is  the  duty  of  the  church  session  "to  concert  the  best 
measures  for  promoting  the  spiritual  interests  of  the 
Church."  (Constitution,  Section  27.)  "In  the  exercise  of 
its  power  to  procure  a  minister  to  take  charge  of  a  church 
as  pastor,  or  otherwise,  the  church  session  should  in  all 
cases  endeavor  to  ascertain  the  will  of  the  church  and  pro- 
cure such  minister  as  will  best  subserve  the  interests  of 
that  particular  church."     (General  Regulations,  Section  4.) 

It  is  the  duty  of  the  Presbytery  "to  concert  measures  for 
the  enlargement  of  the  Church  within  its  bounds,"  and  "to 
order  whatever  pertains  to  the  spiritual  welfare  of  the 
churches  under  its  care"  (Constitution,  Section  31).  It  is 
also  the  duty  of  the  Presbytery  "to  take  special  oversight 
of  vacant  churches."  (Constitution,  Section  31.)  "No  min- 
ister shall  take  charge  of  a  church  as  its  pastor,  or  other- 
wise, without  the  consent  of  the  Presbytery  in  the  bounds 
of  which  the  church  is  located,  or  subject  to  the  approval 
of  the  Presbytery  at  its  next  stated  meeting."  (Constitu- 
tion, Section  58.) 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  137 

In  view  of  the  foregoing  facts  we  recommend  the  fol- 
lowing : 

(1)  That  you  instruct  your  Presbyteries  to  group  such  of 
their  churches  as  are  not  able  to  employ  a  minister  for  all 
his  time,  to  the  best  advantage  for  supplying  them  with 
regular  preaching  and  pastoral  oversight. 

(2)  That  you  instruct  your  Presbyteries  to  require 
churches  grouped  together  to  employ  the  same  minister. 

(3)  That  every  Presbytery,  in  its  care  of  a  group  of 
churches,  shall  enforce  the  same  rule  in  reference  to  its 
Committee  on  Pastorates  and  Supplies,  as  with  a  single 
church  employing  a  minister  for  all  his  time. 

(4)  That  each  one  of  your  Presbyteries  instruct  the  ses- 
sions of  respective  groups  to  meet  jointly,  if  necessary,  in 
selecting  a  minister  to  serve  them  as  pastor  or  stated  supply. 

(5)  That  you  instruct  each  of  your  Presbyteries  to  re- 
quire all  the  sessions  and  churches  of  a  given  group  to  be 
governed,  in  their  selection  of  a  minister,  by  a  majority  of 
the  sessions  of  the  churches  composing  the  group,  should 
there  not  be  entire  unanimity,  unless  the  Presbytery  should 
see  good  reason  for  ordering  otherwise. — 1897,  pp.  42,  43. 

(e)  Sustaining  Taxes  must  be  Equable. 

Complaint  of  L.  B.  McCaslin  and  E.  A.  Milligan,  of  the 
Morrillton  Presbytery,  Synod  of  Arkansas.  While  the  de- 
liverances of  our  former  Assemblies  are  very  clear  that  the 
Constitution  of  our  Church  gives  a  Presbytery  the  right  to 
levy  taxes  sufficient  for  its  work,  yet  we  respectfully  sub- 
mit that  the  above  named  complaint  is  well  taken,  and  in 
our  opinion  a  Presbytery  has  not  the  right  to  levy  a  tax  un- 
equally upon  its  members,  but  that  to  be  legal  such  tax 
shall  be  levied  alike  upon  all  members  of  such  Presbytery 
and  not  upon  ministers  only.  See  Cumberland  Digest,  page 
165.— 1915,  p.  109. 

(f)  A  Licentiate  Sitting  as  a  Representative. 

Appeal  from  the  Talladega  Presbytery,  Alabama  Synod, 
for  a  deliverance  upon  the  question  as  to  the  right  of  a 
Presbytery  to  pass  an  order  that  no  elder  who  is  a  can- 
didate or  licentiate  in  said  Presbytery  should  be  allowed  a 
seat  in  that  Presbytery. 


138  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

Your  committee  is  of  the  opinion  that,  while  a  Presby- 
tery is  a  competent  Church  court,  yet  a  congregation  or  local 
church,  upon  recommendation  of  its  session,  has  the  right 
to  elect  any  member  to  the  office  of  ruling  elder  and  as  such 
officer,  even  though  a  probationer,  he  is  entitled  to  election 
to  and  a  seat  as  a  member  of  Presbytery  to  which  such 
church  belongs.  We  refer  you  to  Cumberland  Digest,  page 
121.— 1915,  p.  109. 

(Note. — However,  it  is  earnestly  urged  in  many  deliver- 
ances of  the  Assembly  that  when  an  elder  becomes  a  can- 
didate for  the  ministry  he  should  give  up  his  sessional  of- 
fice.—A.  C.  B.) 

(11)  Presbytery  Has  the  Power  to  Unite  or  Divide  Churches. 

Constitution,  Section  31. — The  Presbytery  has  the  power 
to  unite  or  divide  churches,  with  the  consent  of  a  majority 
of  the  members  thereof. 

A  Presbytery  has  the  right  to  dissolve  a  congregation, 
with  the  consent  of  its  members,  and  attach  them  to  other 
congregations.    Adopted. — 1869,  p.  34. 

(12)  Presbytery  Cannot  Examine  Ordained  Ministers  Com- 

ing by  Letter. 

The  Committee  on  Judiciary  respectfully  report  that  they 
have  considered  the  protest  and  answer  from  the  Synod  of 
Texas,  on  the  following  facts — to  wit:  Buffalo  Gap  Presby- 
tery amended  its  by-laws  so  as  to  require  "all  ordained  min- 
isters applying  for  membership  in  said  Presbytery  to  sub- 
mit to  an  examinaton  on  literature  and  theology  previous 
to  admission." 

This  amendment,  having  been  brought  to  the  notice  of 
Synod  through  its  Committee  on  Presbyterial  Minutes,  was 
declared  "unwarranted  by  the  Constitution  of  our  Church." 

The  record  seems  to  raise  two  questions:  First,  could 
Synod  take  jurisdiction  of  the  case  in  the  manner  it  did? 
and,  secondly,  was  the  action  of  Synod  right  and  proper  in 
declaring  said  amended  by-law  unconstitutional? 

We  are  of  opinion  that  the  action  of  said  Synod  in  the 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  139 

premises  was  right,  and  recommend  that  it  be  sustained. 
Adopted.— 1892,  pp.  25,  26. 

(13)  Presbytery  May  Allow  an  Elder  Who  Has  not  Been 

Elected  to  Represent  His  Session. 

The  law  of  our  Church  requires  the  appointment  or  elec- 
tion of  delegates  to  Presbytery,  but  the  Committee  do  not 
now  undertake  to  declare  that  there  may  not  be  exceptional 
instances  that  would  make  it  proper  for  the  Presbytery  to 
accept  other  evidence  of  the  right  of  an  elder  to  represent 
his  congregation.    Adopted — 1895,  p.  42. 

(14)  A  Representative  Cannot  Be  Seated  before  His  Church 

Is  Received. 

The  Iowa  Synod  held  that  the  Des  Moines  Presbytery  had 
acted  with  "irregularity  in  receiving  an  elder  as  a  represen- 
tative, and  electing  him  as  clerk  of  Des  Moines  Presbytery 
before  his  congregation  was  taken  under  the  care  of  Pres- 
bytery." On  appeal  to  the  Assembly,  the  Synod  was  sus- 
tained.—1860,  p.  72. 

(15)  Presbyteries  May  Elect  Ruling  Elders,  Who  Are  not 

Members  of  Their  Bodies,  to  Positions. 

(a)  As  commissioners  to  the  General  Assembly. 

The  General  Assembly  held  that  ruling  elders  who  are  not 
members  of  the  Presbyteries  electing  them  may  be  chosen 
as  commissioners,  provided  they  indicate  their  willingness 
to  serve.— 1829,  p.  9,  MSS. 

The  following  question  was  propounded  to  the  General  As- 
sembly: Are  elders  who  are  not  members  of  Presbytery 
eligible  to  be  elected  commissioners  to  the  General  Assem- 
bly? 

The  Assembly  answered  this  question  in  the  affirmative, 
for  the  reason  that  the  book  gives  express  authority  to 
Presbyteries  to  appoint  elders  commissioners  to  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  without  reference  to  the  question  whether 
such  elders  are  members  of  Presbyteries  or  not. — 1875,  p.  24. 

(b)  As  committeemen  to  attend  to  Presbyterial  business. 
The  Assembly  held  that  Presbyteries,  in  some  cases,  may 


140  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

select  ruling  elders  who  are  not  members  of  these  bodies 
"to  do  Presbyterial  business,"  and  that  in  other  cases  they 
should  not.— 1873,  p.  30. 

In  the  matter  of  the  memorial  from  Bell  Presbytery  the 
Committee  find  this  question: 

"Are  ruling  elders  who  are  not  members  of  Preshyt'ry, 
competent  to  be  made  members  of  standing  committees?" 

The  Committee  have  not  reached  a  conclusion  on  this 
question  without  hesitation  and  difficulty.  We  believe  a  lit- 
eral interpretation  of  the  law  would  lead  to  an  answer  in  the 
negative.  But  we  believe,  further,  that  it  is  a  safe  rule  by 
which  we  may  be  governed,  to  give  such  construction  of  the 
law  as  will  enable  Church  judicatories  to  promote  the  in- 
terest of  the  Church  most  effectively.  If  we  deny  the  right 
of  Presbyteries  to  appoint  elders  to  important  duties,  simply 
because  they  are  not,  for  the  time  being,  members  of  Pres- 
bytery, we  thereby  greatly  curtail  the  power  of  the  Presby- 
teries in  employing  talented  and  useful  men  in  the  work  of 
the  Church. 

We  therefore  reach  the  conclusion,  that  a  liberal  con- 
struction of  the  law  in  the  case  will  give  the  Presbyteiies  en- 
larged means  of  usefulness,  and  that  no  injury  can  possibly 
result.  We  therefore  answer  the  question  in  the  affirmative. 
—1875,  p.  24. 

[Note. — Certainly  the  Committee  did  not  mean  the  non- 
members  could  act  on  a  "Standing"  Committee,  for  a 
"Standing  Committee  is  one  of  the  working  appointments 
of  the  body  and  must  be  made  up  of  eligible  members.  I  see 
no  confficting  reason,  however,  why  they  may  not  serve  on 
special  committees. — A.  C.  B..] 

III.  THE  SYNOD. 

1.  The  Constituents  of  Syond. 

Constitution,  Section  35. — The  Synod  consists  of  all  the 
ministers,  and  one  ruling  elder  from  each  church,  in  a  dis- 
trict comprising  at  least  three  Presbyteries.  The  Synod 
ma3^  be  composed,  at  its  own  option,  with  the  consent  of  a 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  141 

majority  of  its  Presbyteries,  either  of  all  the  ministers,  and 
one  ruling  elder  from  each  church  in  its  district,  or  of  equal 
delegations  of  ministers  and  ruling  elders  selected  by  the 
Presbyteries  on  a  basis  and  in  a  ratio  determined  in  like 
manner  by  the  Synod  and  its  Presbyteries. 

4 

2.  A  Quorum  of  Synod. 

Constitution,  Section  36. — Five  ministers,  who  are  mem- 
bers of  one  or  more  of  the  Presbyteries  composing  the  Syn- 
od, shall  constitute  a  quorum  for  the  transaction  of  Synodi- 
cal  business,  provided  there  be  present  at  least  one  minister 
or  one  ruling  elder  from  each  of  the  three  Presbyteries. 
Members  of  the  different  Presbyteries  in  Synod  shall  not  be 
entitled  to  vote  on  questions  of  appeal  before  the  Synod 
from  their  own  Presbytery,  nor  on  other  questions  immedi- 
ately concerning  their  own  Presbyterial  action. 

i 
3.  Synods  are  Created  by  Authority  of  the  Assembly. 

Constitution,  Section  43. — The  General  Assembly  has  the 
power  to  create,  divide  or  dissolve  Synods. 

Whereas,  The  mind  of  this  Assembly  is  solicited,  relative 
to  the  period  in  which  a  Synod  receives  its  being, 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  House  that  a  Syn- 
od exists  as  soon  as  it  is  ordered. — 1833,  pp.  134,  135., 
MSS. 

4.  Synodical  Boundaries  are  Determined  by  the  Assembly. 

As  to  the  boundaries  between  Synods,  the  Committee  say 
that  this  Assembly  is  the  proper  tribunal  to  settle  such  con- 
troversies.   Adopted. — 1860,  p.  74. 

5.  But  in  Change  of  Boundaries,  Interested  Synods  May 

Speak. 

We  have  considered  the  memorial  from  Arkansas  Synod 
with  reference  to  the  change  of  boundary  liries  between 
said  Synod  and  the  Synod  of  Texas.  We  find  the  Arkansas 
Synod  proposes  certain  changes  in  the  boundary  lines ;  and 
that  the  Texas  Synod  has  agreed  to  only  a  portion  of  the 


142  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

proposed  changes.  We  think  that  the  Arkansas  Synod 
should  have  the  privilege  of  considering  the  matter  again, 
before  the  General  Assembly  takes  action.  We  therefore 
recommend  that  the  matter  be  referred  to  the  Arkansas 
Synod  for  further  action.    Adopted. — 1892,  p.  33. 

We  have  considered  the  memorials  referred  to  us  in  re- 
lation to  the  action  of  the  Synod  of  Illinois  in  changing  the 
lines  of  certain  of  the  Presbyteries  within  its  bounds,  one 
from  Vandalia  Presbytery  complaining  of  the  action,  and 
one  from  Decatur  Presbytery  asking  that  said  action  be  sus- 
tained. 

We  deem  it  improper  for  the  General  Assembly  to  act  upon 
the  merits  of  questions  presented  by  complaint  or  memorial 
in  relation  to  the  action  of  Synods,  without  giving  the  Syn- 
od of  whose  action  complaint  is  made  an  opportunity  to  be 
heard.  Unless  a  prima  facie  case  is  made  out  by  "the  com- 
plaint or  memorial,  it  should  be  dismissed. 

In  this  matter  v/e  see  no  sufficient  reason  why  the  delib- 
erate action  of  the  Synod,  of  which  complaint  is  made, 
should  be  disturbed,  and  therefore  recommend  that  the 
memorial  from  Vandalia  Presbytery  be  dismissed.  Adopted. 
—1891,  p.  17. 

6.  Members  of  Synod  Should  Attend. 

No  excuse  for  non-attendance  of  members  shall  be  deemed 
good,  unless  it  be  embraced  by  what  is  called  a  providential 
hindrance, — From  Minutes  of  Cumberland  Synod,  1815. 

To  reach  delinquent  members  of  Synod,  your  Committee 
recommend  that  the  several  Synods  under  your  care  require 
each  Presbytery  to  hold  its  members  amenable  for  non-at- 
tendance at  Synod.  The  reasons  rendered  shall  be  spread 
on  the  minutes  of  Presbytery,  but  no  reasons  shall  be  sus- 
tained unless  they  show  that  the  hindering  causes  were 
providential.     Adopted. — 1851,  p.  23. 

Presbyteries  have  the  right  to  call  on  all  delinquent  mem- 
bers and  deal  with  them.— 1841,  p.  710,  MSS. 

Whereas,  The  Middle  Tennessee  Synod  has  said  that  the 
principle    authorizing  Presbyteries  to  call  on  the  church 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  143 

Sessions  to  render  an  excuse  for  failing  to  send  up  represen- 
tatives, is  not  secured  to  Presbyteries,  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  in  the  opinion  of  this  General  Assembly 
our  Book  of  Discipline  secures  that  right  to  the  Presby- 
teries.   Adopted.— 1841,  pp.  608;  609,  MSS. 

7.  Meetings  of  Synod. 

(1)  On  Its  Own  Adjournment.  >   .  ,    . 
Constitution,  Section  39. — The  Synod  shall  meet  as  often 

as  once  in  two  years,  on  its  own  adjournment. 

(2)  Provision  for  Failure  to  Meet  on  Its  Own  Adjourn- 
ment. 

Constitution,  Section  39. — If,  for  any  cause,  the  Synod 
shall  fail  to  meet  at  the  time  and  place  to  which  it  stands 
adjourned,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Moderator,  or,  in  case 
of  his  absence,  death,  or  inability  to  act,  the  Stated  Clerk, 
or,  in  case  of  his  absence,  death,  or  inability  to  act,  any 
three  ministers  entitled  to  membership  in  the  Synod,  and 
belonging  to  different  Presbyteries,  to  call  a  meeting  as 
early  as  practicable,  at  such  place  as  may  be  designated,  for 
the  transaction  of  the  regular  business ;  and  for  this  puiiDose 
a  circular  letter  shall  be  sent  to  every  minister  and  ruling 
elder  entitled  to  membership,  or  constituent  body  entitled 
to  representation  therein,  not  less  than  thirty  days  before 
the  meeting. 

(3)  Bay  a  Synod  Hold  a  Called  Meeting? 

General  Regulations,  Section  8. — Called  meetings  of 
Church  courts  above  the  Church  Session  shall  be  composed 
of  the  same  members,  or  their  alternates,  constituting  the 
preceding  stated  meeting  of  the  same  court,  unless  the  con- 
stituent body  shall  designate  some  one  else  as  a  representa- 
tive to  such  called  meeting. 

We  [the  Judiciary  Committee]  find  referred  to  us  a  ques- 
tion involving  the  constitutionality  of  the  action  of  Union 
Synod,  at  a  called  meeting  of  said  Synod,  held  in  July,  1856 ; 
in  regard  to  which  our  Committee  believe  that,  in  taking  a 
proper  view  of  the  spirit  and  design  of  the  Disciphne,  as  ex- 


144  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

pressed  in  our  Form  of  Government,  Chapter  X.,  Section  3, 
said  action  was  constitutional  and  orderly,  and,  on  the  same 
authority,  the  Committee  believe  the  proceedings  of  said 
Synod,  at  an  adjourned  meeting,  in  December  of  the  same 
year,  to  have  been  legal.    Adopted. — 1857,  p.  61. 

It  appearing  to  the  Committee  [on  Overtures]  that  all 
the  elements  of  a  Synod  still  exist,  notwithstanding  its  fail- 
ure to  meet  according  to  adjournment,  we,  therefore,  recom- 
mend that  the  last  Moderator  of  the  Synod  [Ozark]  be  di- 
rected to  call  a  meeting  of  the  Synod  at  such  time  and  place 
as  he  shall  deem  suitable,  according  to  the  principles  laid 
down  in  the  Form  of  Government  for  the  calling  of  extra- 
ordinary meetings  of  the  Presbyteries.  Adopted. — 1860,  p. 
32. 

Your  Committee  report  on  the  legality  of  the  called  meet- 
ing of  the  Missouri  Synod,  which  was  referred  to  it:  That, 
in  the  ab,-?enre  of  any  explicii:  law  on  the  question,  and  in 
view  of  the  fact  that  other  judicatures  of  our  Church,  with 
a  similar  constitution,  make  provision  for  called  meetings, 
it  is,  therefore,  the  opinion  of  your  Committee  that  the 
Moderator  had  a  perfect  right  to  call  a  meeting  of  said  Syn- 
od.   Adopted.— 1888,  p.  35. 

It  is  the  opinion  of  the  Committee  that  there  is  no  au- 
thority in  our  Constitution  for  a  Moderator  to  call  a  ses- 
sion of  the  Synod  except  as  provided  in  Section  39,  where 
the  Synod  fails  to  meet  on  its  own  adjournment.  Approved. 
—1895,  p.  42. 

8.  Meeting  of  Synod,  After  the  Time  to  Which  it  Stood  Ad- 
journed, Legal. 

Your  Judiciary  Committee  respectfully  report,  on  the  ref- 
erence made  to  us  as  to  the  constitutionality  of  the  meeting 
of  Green  River  Synod.  In  this  case  it  appears  that  the 
Synod  adjourned  to  meet  October  24,  1861,  at  7  o'clock  p. 
m.,  but  did  not  meet  until  11  o'clock  a.  m.,  October  25,  1861, 
which  facts  are  recorded  in  the  minutes.  We  therefore,  re- 
port Green  River  Synod  in  order.    Adopted. — 1862,  p.  54. 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  145 

9.  Moderator  of  Synod. 

The  Committee  on  Judiciary  have  considered  the  case 
from  McAdow  Synod,  referred  to  them  by  your  body.  It 
appears  that  said  feynod,  at  its  session  for  1883,  organized 
and  regularly  elected  a  Moderator.  On  the  second  day  of 
its  session  it  took  recess  until  2  o'clock,  p.  m.  At  that  hour 
the  Moderator  was  absent.  The  Stated  Clerk  then  called 
the  Synod  to  order,  and  without  declaring  the  office  vacant, 
the  Synod  elected  another  Moderator. 

This  action  of  the  Synod  your  Committee  consider  irreg- 
ular. We  are  of  the  opinion  that  it  is  contemplated,  under 
our  Form  of  Government,  that  the  Moderator  elected  at  the 
organization  of  our  church  courts,  at  their  regular  sessions, 
should  hold  his  office  until  the  next  stated  meeting  of  such 
court,  and  to  make  the  election  of  another  at  an  earlier 
date  regular,  the  office  should  in  some  way  have  first  be- 
come vacant,  and  this  fact  should  appear  on  record. 
Adopted.— 1884,  p.  33. 

(Note.— See  Part  IV.,  "Church  Courts,"  Section  1,  "Mod- 
erators of  tiie  church  courts,"  p.  101.) 

10.  Clerk  of  Synod. 

(Note.— See  Part  IV.,  "Church  Courts,"  Clerks  of  Church 
Courts,"  p.  104.) 

11.  Synod  Determines  Presbyterial  Boundaries. 

Constitution,  Section  37. — ^The  Synod  has  the  power  to 
create,  divide,  or  dissolve  Presbyteries  when  deemed  ex- 
pedient. 

It  is  objected  that  the  Synod  had  no  right  to  create  this 
Presbytery,  out  of  Red  Oak  and  others,  against  the  objec- 
tion of  aU  or  even  one.  We  think  the  law  is  otherwise. 
Form  of  Government,  Chapter  X.,  Section  3,  gives  to  the 
Synod  power  to  "create,  divide,  or  dissolve  Presbyteries, 
when  deemed  expedient."  That  is,  as  we  construe  it,  when 
the  Synod,  not  the  Presbyteries  or  congregations,  deem  it 
expedient  or  best  for  the  church.  Then,  if  it  was  con- 
sidered "expedient"  by  the  Synod,  they  had  the  power  to 


146  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

do  it.  It  might  be  best  to  act  upon  p>etition  or  consent,  but 
that  is  not  necessary  to  the  lawful  power.  We  have  no 
right  to  look  into,  or  pass  upon,  their  motives  and  objects, 
if  the  act  done  was  within  their  constitutional  power.  It 
may  be  that  this  body  would  have  the  right  to  correct  any 
abuse  of  the  power,  were  the  matter  brought  before  it  by 
proper  mode.  But  the  record  in  this  case  does  not  show 
any  facts  to  authorize  us  to  reverse  and  annul  their  action. 
From  all  that  appears  to  us,  we  cannot  but  hold  that  their 
action  was  lawful.    Adopted.— 1876,  p.  31. 

The  Committee  on  Judiciary,  to  whom  was  referred  the 
appeal  of  Tabor  congregation,  of  the  Texas  Synod,  would 
state  that  Tabor  Church,  of  Guadalupe  Presbytery,  in  1890, 
applied  in  the  first  instance  to  the  Texas  Synod  to  transfer 
Tabor  congi-egation  from  the  Guadalupe  Presbytery  to  the 
Colorado  Presbytery.  In  compliance  with  said  request 
Texas  Synod  transferred  said  congregation  to  the  Colorado 
Presbytery.  Aftei-ward,  in  1891,  upon  an  application  of 
the  Guadalupe  Presbytery,  the  Synod  of  Texas  rescinded  its 
foiTner  action,  transferring  said  Tabor  congregation  to  the 
Colorado  Presbytery. 

The  Committee,  after  a  consideration  of  all  the  facts,  find : 

1.  That  the  Synod  has  original  jurisdiction,  upon  the  ap- 
plication of  a  church  or  a  number  of  churches,  to  change  the 
boundary  lines  of  a  Presbytery,  and  to  transfer  one  or  more 
congregations  from  one  Presbytery  to  another,  and  that 
the  Synod  in  its  first  deliverance  upon  the  question  under 
consideration  did  not  exceed  its  powers. 

2.  The  Committee  further  find  that  the  action  of  the 
Synod,  rescinding  at  a  subsequent  session  its  action  in  the 
first  instance,  leaves  the  memorial  of  Tabor  congregation 
before  the  Synod. 

3.  The  Committee  recommend  that  the  said  Synod  of 
Texas  transfer  said  congregation  to  the  Colorado  Presby- 
tery, in  accordance  with  the  memorial  and  request  of  Tabor 
congregation.    Adopted. — 1892,  p.  26. 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  147 

12.  May  Synod  Transfer  the  Membership  of  a  Minister? 

Synods  have  no  right  to  change  the  Presbyterial  relations 
of  a  minister  or  ministers ;  except  in  constituting  new  Pres- 
byteries, in  which  case  they  have  constitutional  jurisdiction 
in  reference  to  both  territory  and  ministers. — 1847,  p.  620, 
MSS. 

Your  Committee  appointed  on  the  minutes  of  Iowa  Synod, 
would  report  that  they  have  examined  the  minutes  of  that 
Synod,  of  September,  1863,  and  find  that,  by  a  resolution  of 
that  body,  the  membership  of  Rev.  Wm.  Lynn  was  changed 
from  Iowa  to  Oskaloosa  Presbytery,  without  changing  the 
boundaries  of  those  Presbyteries.  This,  in  the  opinion  of 
your  Committee,  is  a  departure  from  our  Book  of  Discipline. 
We  can  conceive  of  very  extreme  circumstances  when  such 
action  is  justifiable,  but  in  such  cases,  ian  account  of  the 
circumstances  should  be  spread  upon  the  minutes.  Adopted. 
—1865,  p.  173. 

The  question  presented  in  the  minutes  of  Pacific  Synod 
has  been  considered.  The  question  is,  whether  a  minister 
with  a  letter  of  dismission  and  recommendation  can  be  re- 
ceived as  a  member  of  a  Synod  in  another  section,  before 
he  has  been  received  and  constituted  a  member  of  a  Presby- 
tery in  such  Synod  ?  It  is  our  opinion  that  a  minister  must 
become  a  member  of  a  Presbytery  by  its  action  before  he 
can  be  a  member  of  Synod.    Adopted. — 1877,  p.  20. 

13.  The  Name  of  the  Presbytery,  of  a  Member  of  the  Synod, 

Should  Be  Given. 

Your  Committee  appointed  to  examine  the  Minutes  of  the 
Green  River  Synod  would  respectfully  report  that  they  find 
said  minutes  in  good  order,  except  the  following  ommis- 
sions — namely:  In  making  out  the  roll  of  members  in  at- 
tendance it  is  not  stated  from  what  Presbyteries  the  elders 
came. — 1876,  p.  15. 

14.  Can  a  Synod  Legalize  the  Acts  of  an  Irregular  Presby- 

tery? 

R-esolved:  That  Synods  cannot  legalize  the  illegal  constitu- 
tion and  acts  of  Presbyteries.    Adopted. — 1841,  p.  620,  MSS. 


148  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

This  question  is  answered  in  our  reply  to  the  report  of 
the  Committee  on  the  Minutes  of  Brazos  Synod.  In  addi- 
tion to  that,  we  lay  down  this  general  principle  of  law :  That 
no  legislative  body  can  legalize  the  acts  of  another  legisla- 
tive body,  nor  can  an  appellate  court  legalize  the  decisions 
of  an  inferior  court.  We  admit  that  a  legislature  might 
legalize  the  acts  of  inferior  courts  or  the  acts  of  ministerial 
officers;  but  the  distinction  must  be  constantly  borne  in 
mind,  that  no  legislative  body  can  legalize  acts  which  it 
was  the  excluusive  prerogative  of  another  legislative  body 
to  pass  upon.  Any  other  conclusion  would  involve  infinite 
difficulty  and  confusion.    Approved. — 1875,  p.  32. 

15.  Who  May  Be  Seated  by  the  Body? 

We  have  complaint  from  Arkansas  Synod.  Said  Synod 
resolved  to  seat  one  Rev.  D.  T.  Waynick,  an  ex-Cumberland 
Presbyterian,  should  he  visit  the  Synod.  He  had  allied  him- 
self with  the  U.  S.  A.  denomination.  Following  said  action 
by  the  Synod,  he  appeared  and  by  action  of  Synod  was  in- 
vited to  a  seat  as  a  visiting  member.  Against  this  action  of 
Synod  the  complaint  is  made. 

Your  conmiittee  would  refer  to  the  law  governing  such 
case.  "Ministers  in  good  standing  in  other  Presbyteries,  or 
in  any  ecclesiastical  body  with  which  this  Church  has  es- 
tabhshed  correspondence,  being  present  at  the  time,  may 
be  invited  to  sit  and  deliberate  as  advisory  or  visiting  mem- 
bers." The  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  not  having 
any  estabhshed  correspondence  with  the  Presbyterian 
Church  U.  S.  A.,  it  is  the  opinion  of  your  committee  that  it 
is  not  proper  nor  right  under  the  law  to  invite  to  a  seat  as 
a  visiting  member  a  member  of  the  said  U.  S.  A.  Church. 
Certainly  not,  if  objection  be  made. — 1914,  p.  165. 

16.  Can  Synod  Order  a  Presbytery  to  Drop  a  Name  from 

Its  RoU? 

We  find  an  order  (by  Kentucky  Synod)  directing  Cumber- 
land Presbytery  to  erase  the  name  of  a  member  from  its  list, 
without  stating  any  process  of  trial,  which  your  Committee 
regard  as  an  unconstitutional  act.    Adopted. — 1857,  p.  15. 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  149 

The  following  was  adopted: 

In  the  matter  of  the  protest  found  in  the  minutes  of  West 
Tennessee  Synod,  in  which  complaint  is  made  of  the  action 
of  the  Synod  in  instructing  the  Memphis  Presbytery  to  drop 
from  its  roll  the  name  of  John  A.  Dewoody,  your  Committee 
is  of  the  opinion  that  the  action  of  said  Synod  was,  under 
all  the  circumstances,  eminently  proper  and  hereby  recom- 
mend the  adoption  of  the  following: 

Resolved :  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  General  Assembly, 
as  expressed  substantially  by  the  Assembly  two  years  ago 
(1855,  p.  49),  that  it  is  highly  improper,  disorderly,  and  sub- 
versive of  the  government  of  our  Church  for  any  Presby- 
tery to  receive  as  a  member,  or  recognize  any  man  as  an 
orderly  minister  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church, 
against  whom  a  sentence  of  suspension  or  deposition  has 
been  pronounced,  until  said  sentence  has  been  legally  re- 
voked or  withdrawn. — 1857,  p.  61. 

The  action  of  Nolin  Presbytery  in  ordaining  Mrs.  L.  M. 
Woosley  to  the  work  of  the  gospel  ministry  was  without 
authority  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  and  without  authority  of 
the  Constitution,  Rules  of  Discipline,  and  Confession  of 
Faith  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  and  such 
ordination  was  and  is  null  and  void. 

The  action  of  the  Synod  of  Kentucky  in  declaring  said 
ordination  without  authority  from  the  Confession  of  Faith 
or  the  Holy  Scriptures,  was  and  is  right  and  correct. 

The  order  of  the  Synod  of  Kentucky  instructing  Nolin 
Presbytery  to  retire  the  name  of  Mrs.  L.  M.  Woosley  from 
its  list  of  ministers  was  right  and  proper  and  should  be 
affirmed. 

We  recommend  that  the  appeal  of  Mrs.  Woosley  be  dis- 
missed and  the  action  of  the  Synod  of  Kentucky  be  ratified 
and  affirmed.    Adopted. — 1894,  p.  23. 

17.  Synod  May  Remand  with  Instructions. 

If,  in  the  progress  of  the  examination,  the  Synod  finds 
evidences  of  guilt  (of  a  minister)  not  contained  in  any  of 
the  char/ies,  they  should  instruct  the  Presbytery  to  try  him 


150  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

on  these  points,  if  deemed  of  sufficient  importance  to  de- 
mand the  censure  of  the  Church.    Adopted. — 1858,  p.  33. 

When  a  minister  under  censure  of  his  Presbytery  appeals 
to  the  Synod,  has  the  Synod  the  right  to  judge  the  man, 
and  to  judge  of  the  proceedings  and  to  approve  or  condemn 
them  and,  if  out  of  order,  to  remand  the  case  with  instruc- 
tions ? 

Your  Committee  (Judiciary)  would  answer  that  any  ju- 
dicature to  which  an  appeal  has  been  taken  has  a  right  to 
examine  the  whole  proceedings  with  the  testimony  and,  if 
they  find  it  according  to  order,  to  affirm  the  decision  of  the 
court  below  and,  if  not  according  to  order,  to  remand  it  with 
instructions.     i\dopted. — 1858.  p.  33. 

18.  When  a  Call  on  Presbytery   Is  Unconstitutional. 

In  the  minutes  of  1848  the  Synod  (Illinois)  called  upon 
Vandalia  Presbytery  to  send  up  the  minutes  and  documents 
relating  to  the  case  of  A.  F.  Trowsdale,  basing  the  demand 
on  public  rumor.  Vandalia  Presbytery  refused  to  comply, 
for  the  reasons  that  ten  years  had  elapsed  since  it  withdrew 
the  license  of  A.  F.  Trowsdale  and  several  of  the  witnesses 
had  died,  and  for  the  additional  reason  that  the  minutes  of 
the  Presbytery  had  passed  the  Synod  at  the  proper  time, 
without  remark.  Illinois  Synod  referred  the  case  to  this 
General  Assembly ;  therefore  be  it 

Resolved:  That  in  the  opinion  of  this  General  Assembly 
the  demand  of  the  Synod,  in  calling  on  Vandalia  Presbytery, 
was  unconstitutional.    Adopted. — 1849,  p.  23. 

19.  Advisory  Members  and  Visiting  Brethren. 

General  Regulations,  Section  9. — Ministers  in  good  stand- 
ing in  other  Presbyteries,  or  in  any  ecclesiastical  body  with 
which  this  Church  has  established  correspondence,  being 
present  at  any  meeting  of  a  Presbytery  or  Synod,  may  be 
invited  to  sit  and  deliberate  as  advisory  members.  Ministers 
of  like  standing  in  other  evangelical  Churches  may  be  in- 
vited to  sit  as  visiting  brethren.  It  is  proper  for  the  Mod- 
erator appropriately  to  introduce  these  ministers. 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  151 

We,  your  Gommittee  on  the  Minutes  of  Oregon  Synod, 
would  respectfully  report  that  we  find  two  irregularities: 

1.  That  visiting  brethren  were  put  upon  regular  commit- 
tees and  put  their  signatures  to  the  reports. 

2.  That  a  visiting  brother  was  made  Stated  Clerk,  pro 
tern.,  and  signed  the  minutes  as  such.  Adopted. — 1892,  p. 
53. 

(Note. — The  terms  "advisory  members"  and  "visiting 
brethren"  are  frequently  confounded.  The  foregoing  case 
is  manifestly  an  instance  of  that  kind. — J.  V.  S.) 

20.  Synod  Held  on  Sunday. 

Your  Committee,  appointed  to  examine  the  minutes  of  the 
Synod  of  Brazos,  report  that  we  have  had  a  printed  copy  of 
the  minutes  of  1870  of  said  Synod  before  us  and  find  them 
in  the  main  correct.  They,  however,  adjourned  on  Saturday 
to  meet  on  Sabbath  morning,  which  your  Committee  think, 
to  say  the  least,  is  not  commendable.    Adopted. — 1871,  p.  13. 

21.  A  Synod  Should  Obey  the  Assembly. 

The  Pennsylvania  Synod  of  1867  resolved :  "That,  for  the 
time  being,  we  will  withdraw  our  co-operation  from  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  in  the  way  of  declining  to  support  the 
Boards  of  the  Church,  synodically  or  individually,  or  in  any 
other  way  that  would  express  our  sympathy  with  said  As- 
sembly in  its  teachings  on  these  questions." 

To  this  the  Assembly  replied  that  "such  action  by  a  Synod 
is  subversive  of  the  best  interests  of  the  Church  and  con- 
trary to  the  genius  of  our  ecclesiastical  government." — 
1868,  p.  18. 

22.  Synods  Must  See  That  Their  Presbyteries  Obey  the 
Constitution. 

It  (the  Synod)  has  a  constitutional  right  to  order  a  re- 
consideration of  any  irregularity  or  departure  from  the  Dis- 
cipline and  may  properly  recommend  a  Presbytery  to  rescind 
an  act  and  may  also,  if  necessity  seems  to  require  it,  rec- 
ommend that  the  Moderator  call  a  special  session  of  the 
Presbytery  forthwith.— 1834,  pp.  220,  221,  MSS. 


162  NEW  CUMBERLANri  DIGEST. 

23.  A  Sjnod  May  not  Correct  Its  Minutes  after  They  Have 

Passed  the  Assembly. 

The  decision  is  that  the  Synod  (Kentucky))  had  no  right 
to  correct  its  minutes  after  they  had  passed  the  Assembly. 
Your  Committee  are  of  opinion  that  the  decision  is  correct 
and  would  recommend  that  it  be  sustained.  Adopted. — 
1853,  p.  11. 

We  find  that  they  read,  corrected,  and  approved  a  part  of 
the  minutes  of  a  former  meeting  (Illinois  Synod),  which 
act  we  understand  to  be  a  violation  of  the  rule  forbidding 
the  correction  of  a  minute  after  final  adjournment.  Adopt- 
ed.—1882,  p.  14. 

24.  May  Synod  Direct  a  Presbytery  to  Correct  Its  Record? 

We,  therefore  do  not  sustain  the  appeal  charging  the 
Presbytery  with  irregular  or  disorderly  proceeding,  there 
being  only  one  error  or  omission  in  the  record,  which  the 
Presbytery  should  have  been  directed  to  correct  or  supply. 
Adopted.— 1864,  p.  138. 

25.  None  but  Regular  Ministers  and  Elders  Entitled  to  Sit 

in  Synod. 

We  have  examined  the  minutes  of  Oregan  Synod  for  ses- 
sion of  June,  1886.  We  find  the  minutes  in  good  form,  with 
no  departure  from  the  usages  of  our  Church,  except  the  fol- 
lowing paper  which  was  adopted  by  that  body : 

"Whereas,  much  of  the  Christian  work  of  the  world  is 
done  by  faithful  Christian  women,  and 

"Whereas,  They  ai^  safe  in  counsel  and  zealous  in  effort ; 
therefore  be  it 

"Resolved :  That  we  invite  the  various  congregations  with- 
in the  bounds  of  this  Synod  to  send  each  one  lady  repre- 
sentative to  future  meetings  of  the  Synod,  who  shall  have  a 
right  to  speak  upon  all  subjects  not  considered  in  inter- 
locutory session  and  to  exercise  an  advisory  influence  on  all 
matters  before  the  Synod  relating  to  the  interests  of  the 
cause  of  Christ  within  our  bounds." 

We  think  this  a  departure  from  the  usage  of  Presbyte- 
rianism  of  doubtful  propriety  and  dangerous  tendency.    Not 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  153 

on  the  ground  of  sex,  but  because  it  is  calling  lay  members 
into  a  judicature  of  the  Church  in  a  semi-organic  way.  Re- 
ferred to  Judiciary  Committee, — 1887,  p.  20. 

The  Committee  on  Judiciary  submitted  the  following  re- 
port on  the  matter  presented  in  the  foregoing  report  on  the 
records  of  Oregon  Synod,  which  was  adopted: 

The  Committee  on  Judiciary  have  considered  that  part  of 
the  report  of  the  Committee  on  the  Minutes  of  the  Synod  of 
Oregon,  which  has  been  referred  to  this  Committee  and  re- 
port thereon  as  follows : 

We  are  of  opinion  that  said  report  should  be  adopted,  and 
we  so  recommend. 

The  proposed  action  of  said  Synod  would,  as  we  think,  be 
in  conflict  with  our  government,  and  for  this  reason,  as  well 
as  for  the  reasons  assigned  in  the  report  under  considera- 
tion, said  action  should  not  be  approved.  Adopted. — 1887, 
pp.  20,  21. 

26.  Synod  Cannot  Be  Made  the  Final  Court  of  Appeal. 

The  memorial  from  Bonham  Presbytery  requests  that  the 
Synod  be  made  the  final  court  of  appeal,  except  upon  doc- 
trinal and  constitutional  questions.  Section  67,  on  page  119, 
of  the  Book  of  Church  Government,  provides  that  "every 
decision  made  by  any  church  court,  except  the  highest,  is 
subject  to  the  review  of  a  superior  court  and  may  be  brought 
before  it  by  general  review  and  control,  reference,  appeal, 
or  complaint."    Adopted.— 1887,  p.  13 ;  1897,  p.  67. 


IV.  THE  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY. 

Constitution,  Section  40. — The  General  Assembly  is  the 
highest  court  of  this  Church  and  represents  in  one  body  all 
the  particular  churches  thereof.  It  bears  the  title  of  the 
General  Assembly  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church 
and  constitutes  the  bond  of  union,  peace,  correspondence, 
and  mutual  confidence  among  all  its  churches  and  courts. 


154  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

1.  Formation  of  the  General  Assembly. 

The  subject  of  a  General  Assembly  was  again  taken  up, 
and  after  mature  deliberation  and  fervent  and  solemn  prayer 
the  Great  Head  of  the  Church,  in  an  unusual  manner,  seemed 
graciously  to  afford  his  light,  and  a  decision  was  made  in 
favor  of  a  General  Assembly.  The  vote  stood  thus:  for  a 
delegate  Synod,  20 ;  for  a  General  Assembly,  67. 

Whereas,  this  Synod  has  determined  to  constitute  a  Gen- 
eral Assembly;  therefore  be  it 

Resolved:  That  the  following  Synods  be  constituted — 
viz:  1.  The  McGee,  Barnett,  Sangamon,  Illinois,  St.  Louis, 
and  Arkansas  Presbyteries  compose  a  Synod  to  be  known  as 
the  Missouri  Synod,  which  shall  meet  the  first  Tuesday  m 
October,  1829,  at  Potosi,  Washington  County,  State  of  Mis- 
souri; and  that  Rev.  Finis  Ewing  be  the  first  Moderator, 
and  in  case  of  his  failure,  the  Rev.  Samuel  King.  2.  That 
the  Anderson,  Princeton,  Logan,  and  Indiana  Presbyteries 
compose  a  Synod  to  be  known  as  the  Green  River  Synod,  to 
meet  the  second  Tuesday  in  October,  1829,  at  the  town  of 
Henderson,  in  Henderson  County,  State  of  Kentucky;  and 
that  the  Rev.  David  Lowry  be  the  first  Moderator,  and  in 
case  of  his  failure,  the  Rev.  Alexander  Chapman.  3.  That 
the  Nashville,  Lebanon,  Knoxville,  and  Hopewell  Presby- 
teries compose  a  Synod  to  be  known  as  the  Franklin  Synod, 
to  meet  the  third  Tuesday  in  October,  1829,  at  the  Big 
Spring  Meeting  House,  in  Wilson  County,  State  of  Tennes- 
see ;  and  that  the  Rev.  Thomas  Calhoun  be  the  first  Modera- 
tor, and  in  case  of  his  failure,  the  Rev.  Samuel  McSpadden. 
4.  That  the  Alabama,  Bigby,  Elk,  and  Tennessee  Presby- 
teries compose  a  Synod  to  be  known  as  the  Columbia  Synod, 
to  meet  on  the  fourth  Tuesday  in  October,  1829,  at  Hunts- 
ville,  State  of  Alabama;  and  that  the  Rev.  Robert  Donnell 
be  the  first  Moderator,  and  in  case  of  his  failure,  the  Rev. 
James  B.  Porter. — From  Minutes  of  Cumberland  Synod,  Oc- 
tober, 1828. 

Resolved :  That  the  several  Presbyteries  be  authorized  and 
required  to  appoint  and  send  commissioners  to  the  General 
Assembly  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  which  is 
to  meet  at  Princeton,  Ky.,  on  the  third  Tuesday  in  May, 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  155 

1829,  in  the  following  ratio — viz. :  Each  Presbytery  consist- 
ing of  twelve  or  more  ministers  shall  send  two  ministers 
and  two  elders. 

Resolved:  That  all  the  business  which  has  been  trans- 
acted by  this  Synod,  the  reports  and  accounts  which  were 
to  be  made  to  our  next  Synod,  be  referred  to  the  first  meet- 
ing of  the  General  Assembly;  and  this  Synod  be,  and  the 
same  is  hereby,  dissolved. — From  Minutes  of  Cumberland 
Synod,  October,  1828. 

2.  First  Meeting  of  the  Gftneral  Assembly. 

On  Tuesday,  May  19,  1829,  a  quorum  of  the  commission- 
ers who  had  been  appointed  by  their  respective  Presby- 
teries, according  to  the  instructions  of  the  last  Synod,  met 
at  the  town  of  Princeton,  Caldwell  County,  State  of  Ken- 
tucky, for  the  purpose  of  constituting  the  General  Assembly 
of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. 

The  Rev.  Robert  Donnell  being  invited,  opened  the  meet- 
ing by  a  sermon  from  1  Kings  3 :  9. 

The  Rev.  Thomas  Calhoun,  being  then  invited,  took  the 
chair  and  constituted  the  General  Assembly  by  prayer. — 
1829,  pp.  1,  2,  MSS. 

Rev.  Thomas  Calhoun  was  chosen  Moderator,  and  Rev. 
Richard  Beard,  clerk— 1829,  p.  4,  MSS. 

Rev.  Franceway  R,  Cossitt  was  appointed  Stated  Clerk. 
—1829,  p.  16,  MSS. 

With  the  exceptions  of  1839  and  1844,  the  General  As- 
sembly has  met  annually.  Until  1855  it  met  on  the  third 
Tuesday  of  May  at  11  a.  m.,  since  which  time  it  has  met  on 
the  third  Thursday  of  May  at  11  a.  m. 

The  following  table  exhibits  the  time  and  place  of  meet- 
ing, together  with  the  names  of  the  Moderators  and  Stated 
Clerks  of  the  Assembly,  showing  also  the  number  of  com- 
missioners enrolled  at  each  meeting : 


156 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 


3.  Moderators  and  Clerks  of  Past  Assemblies — 1829  to  1919. 


Date. 

Plaee. 

Moderator. 

Stated   Clerk. 

Mem- 
bers. 

1829,  May  19 

. . .  Princeton,    Ky 

Thomas  Calhoun 

F.   R.    Cossitt 

26 

1830,  May  18 

. .  Princeton,   Ky 

James  B.  Porter. . . 

F.   R.   Cossitt 

36 

1831,  May  17 

. . .  Princeton,    Ky 

Alex.  Chapman 

F.   R.   Cossitt 

34 

1832,  May  15 

. .  Nashville,  Tenn 

Samuel  King 

F.   R.   Cossitt 

36 

1833,  May  21 

. .  .  Nashville,   Tenn 

Thomas  Calhoun.  .  . 

F.   R.   Cossitt 

35 

1834,  May  20 

. .  iPrinceton,  Ky 

F.  R.  Cossitt 

James   Smith    

48 

1835,  May  19 

.  .  .  Princeton,    Ky 

Samuel  King 

James   Smith    

42 

1836,  May  17 

.  .  Nashville,   Tenn 

Reuben   Burrow.... 

James   Smith    

43 

1837,  May  16 

.  .  Princeton,    Ky 

Robert  Donnell 

James   Smith    

49 

1838,  May  15 

.  .  ILebanon,   Tenn 

Hiram  A.  Hunter.  .  . 

James   Smith    

47 

1840,  May  19 

1841,  May  18 

lElkton     Ky            

James  Smith    

C.    G.    McPherson.  . 

55 

.  .  lOwensboio,    Ky 

William  Ralston 

56 

1842,  May  17 

.  .  lOwensboro,  Ky 

Milton  Bird 

C.    G.    McPherson.. 

57 

1843,  May  16 

.  .  lOwensboro,  Ky 

A.  M.  Bryan 

C.    G.    McPherson.. 

68 

1845,  May  20 

.  .  ILebanon,    Tenn 

Richard  Beard 

C.    G.    McPherson.  . 

95 

1846,  May  19 

. .  .  lOwensboro,    Ky 

M.  H.  Bone 

C.    G.    McPherson.  . 

86 

1817,  May  18 

.  .  ILebanon,    Ohio    

Hiram  A.  Hunter. . . 

C.    G.    McPherson.. 

71 

1848,  May  16 

..|Memphis,    Tenn 

Milton  Bird 

C.    G.    McPherson.. 

100 

1849,  May  15 

..IPrinceton,    Ky 

John  L.  Smith 

C.    G.    McPherson.  . 

75 

1850,  May  21 

.  .IClarksville,  Tenn 

Reuben  Burrow 

Milton    Bird    

102 

1851.  May  20 

1852,  May  18 

Milton  Bird 

Milton    Bird    

Milton    Bird    

71 

.  .  INashville,   Tenn 

David  Lowry 

107 

1853,  May  17 

..[Princeton,    Ky 

H.  S.  Porter 

Milton    Bird    

108 

1854,  May  16 

..|Memphis,    Tenn 

Isaac  Shook 

Milton    Bird    

112 

1855,  May  15 

.  .  ILebanon,    Tenn 

M.  H.  Bone 

Milton    Bird    

101 

1856,  May  15 

.  .|Louisville,    Ky 

Milton  Bird 

Milton    Bird    

99 

1857.  May  21 

.  .  ILexington,   Mo 

Carson  P.  Reed 

Milton    Bird    

106 

1858.  May  20 

.  .  IHuntsville,    Ala 

Felix  Johnson 

Milton    Bird    

124 

1859,  May  19 

.  .  lEvansville,  Ind 

T.  B.  Wilson 

Milton    Bird    

131 

1860,  May  17 

.  .  INashville.    Tenn 

S.  G.  Burney 

Milton   Bird    

168 

1861.  May  16 

1862,  May  15 

Milton   Bird    

Milton    Bird    

51 

.  .  lOwensboro,    Ky 

P.  G.  Rea 

58 

1863,  May  21 

1864,  May  19 

lAlton    111 

Milton  Bird 

Milton    Bird    

73 

.  .  ILebanon,    Ohio    

Jesse  Anderson 

Milton    Bird    

65 

1865,  May  18 

.  .  lEvansville,  Ind 

Hiram  Douglas 

Milton   Bird    

78 

1866,  May  17 

.  .  lOwensboro,  Ky 

Richard  Beard 

MiKon    Bird    

155 

1867,  May  16 

.  .  IMemphis,    Tenn 

J.  B.  Mitchell 

Milton   Bird    

176 

1868,  May  21 

1869,  May  20 

G.  W.  Mitchell 

Milton    Bird    

184 

.  .  IMurfreesboro,   Tenn.    .  .  . 

S.  T.  Anderson 

Milton   Bird    

173 

1870,  May  19 

.  .  IWarrensburg,    Mo 

J.  C.  Provine 

Milton   Bird    

167 

1871,  May  18 

.  .  INashville,    Tenn 

J.  B.  Logan 

Milton    Bird    

173 

1872.  May  16 

1873,  May  15 

..lEvansville,    Ind 

.  .  Huntsville,    Ala 

C  H   Bell 

Milton    Bird    

John  Frizzell    

182 

J.  W.  Poindexter.  .. 

165 

1874.  May  21 

1875,  May  20 

.  .ISprinsfield.    Mo 

.  .1  Jefferson.    Tex 

T   C   Blake          

185 

W.  S.  Campbell 

John  Frizzell    

169 

1876,  May  18 

..IBowlinK    Green,    Ky.    ... 

J.  M.  Gill 

John  Frizzell    

184 

1877,  May  17 

1878,  May  16 

A.  B.  Miller 

John  Frizzell    

171 

..ILebanon,    Tenn 

D.  E.  Bushnell 

John  Frizzell    

205 

1879,  May  15 

..IMemphis,    Tenn 

J.  S.  Grider 

John  Frizzell    

143 

1880,  May  20 

.  .  lEvansville,    Ind 

A.  Templeton 

John  Frizzell    

194 

1881,  May  19 

.  .[Austin.  Tex 1 

W.  J.  Darby 

John  Frizzell    

187 

1882,  May  18 

.  .  IHuntsville,    Ala 

S.  H.  Buchanan.  .  .  . 

John  Frizzell    

183 

1883,  May  17 

..INashville,    Tenn 

A.  J.  McGlumphey.  . 

T.   C.    Blake 

204 

1884,  May  15 

.  .  IMcKeesport,    Pa 

John  Frizzell 

T.    C.    Blake 

148 

1885.  May  21 

.  .]Bentonville.   Ark 

G.  T.  Stainback 

T.    C.    Blake 

185 

1886.  May  20 

..[Sedalia.    Mo 

E.  B.  Chrisman 

T.    C.    Blake 

193 

1887,  May  19 

.  .|Covington,    Ohio    1 

Nathan  Green 

T.    C.    Blake 

187 

1S88,  May  17 

..jWaco,    Tex 

W.  H.  Black 

T.    C.    Blake 

217 

1889,  May  16 

.  .IKansas  City,  Mo 1 

J.  M.  Hubbert 

T.    C.    Blake 

217 

1890,  May  15 

..jUnion  City,  Tenn | 

E.  G.  McLean 

T.    C.    Blake 

220 

1891,  May  21 

.  .  lOwensboro,    Ky 1 

E.   E.   Beard 

T.    C.    Blake 

213 

1892,  May  19 

.  .  IMemphis,   Tenn | 

W.  T.  Danley |T.    C.    Blake 

229 

1893,  May  18 

..I Little  Rock,  Ark j 

W.  S.  Ferguson 

T.    C.    Blake 

226 

1894,  May  17. 

. .  jEugene,   Ore 1 

F.  R.  Earl |T.   C.    Blake 

167 

1895,  May  16 

.  .  IMeridian,   Miss 1 

M.  B.  DeWitt IT.   C.    Blake 

208 

1896,  May  21 

. .  1  Birmingham,   Ala j 

A.  W.  Hawkins |  J.    M.    Hubbert 

200 

1897,  May  20 

..jChicago,    111 1 

H.S.Williams |J.    M.    Hubbert 

224 

1898.  May  19 

..jMarshall,   Mo 

H.  H.  Norman 

J.    M.    Hubbert.... 

221 

1899,  May  18 

. .  jDenver,  Col 1 

J.  M.  Halsell 

J.    M.    Hubbert 

181 

1900.  May  17 

. . IChattanooga.    Tenn.    ...| 

H.  C.  Bird 

J.    M.    Hubbert.... 

230 

NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 


157 


Date  Place 

1901,  May  16. .  .|West  Point,  Miss.   . 

1902,  May  15 . .  .  iSpringficld,    Mo.    .  . 

1903,  May  21..  .|Nashville,    Tenn.     . 

1904,  May  19...|DalIas,   Tex 

1905,  May  18..  .IFresno,   Cal 

1906,  May  17..  .  I  Decatur,    111 

1906,  May  24...|Deeatur,   111 

1907,  May  17..  .JDickson,    Tenn.    ... 

1908,  May  21..  .ICorsicana,    Tex.     .. 

1909,  May  20 . .  .  |BentonvilIe,   Ark.    . 

1910,  May  19..  .IDickson.    Tenn.    ... 

1911,  May  18..  .lEvansville,    Ind.    .. 

1912,  May  16.  .  .IWarrensburK,    Mo. 

1913,  May  15..  .  I  Bowling    Green,    Ky, 

1914,  May  21..  .jWaKoner,    Okla.     .. 

1915,  May  20..  .  [Memphis,    Tenn.    .. 

1916,  May  18. .  .IBirminKham,    Ala. 

1917,  May  17...|Lincoln,    111 

1918,  May  16...IDrillas.   Tex 

1919,  May  15.  .  .iFayetteville,   Ark.    . 


Moderator 


Stated  Clerk 


M 


M. 
M. 
M. 
M. 
M. 
M. 


IE.  E.  Morris |J. 

|S.  M.  Templeton |J. 

|R.  M.  Tinnon |J. 

|W.  E.  Settle |J. 

I  J.  B.  Hail |J. 

I  Ira  Landrith |  J. 

I  J.  L.  Hudgins IT.   H 

I  A.  N.  Eshman |J. 

|F.  H.  Prendergast.  .  |J. 

I  J.  T.   Barbee IJ. 

I  J.  H.  Fussell |J. 

I  J.  W.  Duvall |J. 

I  J.  D.  Lewis J. 

I  J.  H.  Milholland [J. 

|F.  A.  Brown |J. 

I  William  Clark |D.    W.    Fooks.  . 

I  J.  L.  Price |D.    W.    Fooks.  . 

|F.  A.  SeaKle ID.    W.    Fooks.. 

|C.  H.Walton |D.    W.    Fooks.. 

|J.  H.  Zwingle |D.    W.    Fooks.. 


Hubbert.  . 

Hubbert . . 

Hubbert.. 

Hubbert. . 

Hubbert.  . 

Hubbert.  . 
Padsrett.  .  . 
L.  Goodknight 
L.  Goodknight 
L.  Goodknight 
L.  Goodknight 
L.  Goodknight 
L.  Goodknight 
L.  Goodknight 
L.    Goodknight 


embers 

226 
255 
247 
251 
249 
279 
106 
140 
236 
142 
144 
105 
109 
119 
112 
116 
125 
102 
117 


4.  Basis  of  Representation  in  the  General  Assembly. 

Constitution,  Section  41. — Every  Presbytery  shall  be  en- 
titled to  send  one  minister  and  one  ruling  elder;  but  if  it 
consists  of  eighteen  or  more  ministerial  members,  it  may 
send  an  additional  minister  and  ruling  elder. 

5.  Commissioners  to  the  General  Assembly. 

Constitution,  Section  41. — Each  Commissioner,  before  his 
name  shall  be  enrolled  as  a  member  of  the  General  Assem- 
bly, shall  produce  from  his  Presbytery  satisfactory  evidence 
of  his  appointment. 

Your  Committee  beg  leave  to  report  that  we  have  ex- 
amined the  credentials  of  Rev.  E.  C.  Boaz  and  find  them 
regular.  The  protest  against  his  being  seated  as  a  com- 
missioner of  this  body  being  verbal  only,  we  have  no  grounds 
to  recognize  the  same.    Adopted. — 1896,  p.  9. 

(1)  Not  Necessary  To  Be  a  Pastor  in  Order  To  Be  a  Com- 

missioner to  the  General  Assembly. 

Is  a  minister  having  no  pastoral  charge  on  that  account 
rendered  ineligible  to  a  seat  in  the  General  Assembly  ?  De- 
cided that  he  is  not.— 1846,  p.  494,  MSS. 

(2)  Commissioners  Should  Remain  through  the  Assembly. 

Resolved :  That  the  Presbyteries  within  the  bounds  of  the 
Church  be,  and  are  hereby,  requested  to  appoint  and  com- 


158  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

mission  no  member  to  this  body  who  will  not  remain  during 
the  whole  of  its  deliberations,  unless  called  to  leave  by  some 
intervening  providence,  and  that  if  any  member  travel  on 
the  Sabbath  day,  in  going  to  or  returning  from  the  Assem- 
bly, he  be  dealt  with  for  an  immorality.  Adopted. — 1852, 
p.  31. 

(3)  Commissioners  Are  Accountable  to  Their  Presbyteries. 

Resolved :  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Assembly  that  it 
has  not  the  right  to  require  commissioners  to  render  an  ac- 
count for  failure  to  attend  at  the  commencement  of  the  ses- 
sion of  the  Assembly,  they  being  accountable  to  their  re- 
spective Presbyteries.— 1832,  pp.  98,  99,  MSS. 

6.  A  Quorum  of  the  General  Assembly. 

Constitution,  Section  42. — Any  twenty  or  more  of  these 
commissioners,  at  least  ten  of  whom  shall  be  ministers,  be- 
ing met  on  the  day  and  at  the  place  appointed,  shall  be  a 
quorum  for  the  transaction  of  business. 

7.  The  Assembly  Must  Meet  as  often  as  Once  in  Two  Years. 

Constitution,  Section  41. — The  General  Assembly  shall 
meet  as  often  as  once  every  two  years,  at  such  time  and 
place  as  may  have  been  determined  at  its  preceding  meet- 
ing. 

(Note. — Propositions  and  memorials  favoring  biennial 
sessions  were  rejected  in  1835,  in  1875,  in  1894,  and  in 
1898.— A.  C.  B.) 

Your  Committee  (ways  and  means)  is  of  opinion  that  inas- 
much as  the  Assembly  may  at  each  meeting  fix  the  time  for 
its  next  meeting,  provided  such  meeting  be  within  the  con- 
stitutional period  of  two  years  from  adjournment,  it  would 
not  be  wise  to  attempt  further  legislation  on  this  subject. 
Further,  your  Committee  fear  that  biennial  meetings  would 
result  in  a  want  of  proper  growth  in  the  various  enterprises 
of  the  Church ;  that  the  fires  upon  the  altars  would  soon  bum 
low ;  that  much  needed  care  and  watchfulness  would  be  lost ; 
and,  indeed,  we  fear  that  the  retrograde  movement  along 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  159 

these  lines  would  prove  a  loss  greater  than  could  be  com- 
pensated for  by  the  amount  of  money  saved.  Your  Com- 
mittee therefore  recommend  that  there  be  no  further  legis- 
lation, at  least  for  the  present,  upon  this  subject. — 1898, 
p.  78. 

8.  Provision  for  Failure  to  Meet  at  the  Appointed  Time. 

Constitution,  Section  44.— If,  for  any  cause,  the  General 
Assembly  shall  fail  to  meet  at  the  time  and  place  to  which 
it  stands  adjourned,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Moderator, 
or,  in  case  of  his  absence,  death,  or  inability  to  act,  the 
Stated  Clerk,  to  call  a  meeting  as  early  as  practicable,  at 
such  place  as  he  may  designate,  for  the  transaction  of  the 
regular  business ;  and  for  this  purpose  a  circular  letter  shall 
be  sent  to  the  Stated  Clerks  of  the  Presbyteries,  not  less 
than  sixty  days  before  the  proposed  time  for  the  meeting. 

In  case  of  the  death,  absence,  or  inability  to  act  of  both 
the  Moderator  and  Stated  Clerk,  such  meeting  may,  in  like 
manner,  be  called  by  the  commissioners,  or  one  or  more  of 
them,  from  any  five  of  the  Presbyteries. 

9.  The  Stated  Clerk  of  the  Assembly. 
(1)  List  of  Stated  Clerks. 

Rev.  F.  Ft.  Cossitt,  D.D.,  was  elected  in  1829  and  resigned 
in  1834.— Minutes,  p.  16. 

Rev.  James  Smith  was  elected  in  1834  and  ceased  to  act 
in  1841.— Minutes,  1834,  p.  234. 

Rev.  C.  G.  McPherson  was  elected  in  1841  and  resigned  in 
1850.— Minutes,  1841,  p.  660. 

Rev.  Milton  Bird  was  elected  in  1850  and  died  July  26, 
1871.— Minutes,  1850,  p.  16. 

Ruling  Elder  John  Frizzell  was  elected  in  1872  and  re- 
signed in  1883.— Minutes,  1872,  p.  31. 

Rev.  T.  C.  Blake,  D.D.,  was  elected  in  1883  and  died  Feb- 
ruary 9,  1896.— Minutes,  1883,  p.  27. 

Rev.  J.  M.  Hubbert  was  elected  in  1896  and  ceased  to  act 
May  23,  1906— Minutes,  1906,  p.  10. 

Rev.  T.  H.  Padgett  was  elected  May  24,  1906,  and  re- 
signed in  1907.— Minutes,  1906,  p.  8. 


160  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

Rev.  J.  L.  Goodknight  was  elected  in  1907  and  died  Oc- 
tober 2,  1914.— Minutes,  1907,  p.  41. 

Rev.  D.  W.  Fooks  was  elected  in  1915  and  continues  in 
office. — Minutes,  1915,  p.  20. 

(2)  In  Case  of  Death  the  Moderator  May  Appoint  a  pro 
tempore  Clerk. 

When  Dr.  Blake  died  in  1896,  the  Moderator  for  that  year, 
the  Rev.  M.  B.  DeWitt,  D.D.,  appointed  the  Rev.  J.  M. 
Hubbert  as  clerk  pro  tempore,  and  his  action  was  endorsed 
by  the  Assembly.  At  the  death  of  Dr.  Goodknight,  Rev. 
F.  A.  Brown,  the  Moderator  of  the  Assembly  for  that  year, 
appointed  Rev.  D.  W.  Fooks  as  clerk  pro  tempore,  and  that 
act  was  ratified  by  the  Assembly. 

Your  Committee  appointed  to  consider  what  course  should 
be  taken  in  case  of  the  death  of  a  Stated  Clerk  of  any 
Church  court  in  the  interims  of  meetings  recommend  that 
in  all  such  cases  the  Moderator  of  the  court  shall  have  power 
to  name  a  pro  tempore  clerk,  who  shall  take  charge  of  the 
books  and  papers  of  the  deceased  clerk  and  discharge  all 
the  duties  and  obligations  of  a  regularly  elected  Stated  Clerk 
until  the  court  concerned  shall  fill  the  vacancy. — 1897,  p.  75. 

(3)  The  Duties  of  the  Stated  Clerk. 

Resolved:  That  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Stated  Clerk  to  be 
present  at  each  meeting  of  the  General  Assembly,  to  give 
transcripts  from  the  records  of  the  Church,  and  make  such 
explanations  and  furnish  such  matter  as  may  be  necessary 
for  the  action  of  the  General  Assembly,  and  that  he  be  per- 
mitted to  take  part  in  debates  in  all  matters  in  relation  to 
the  duties  of  his  office.    Adopted.— 1837,  pp.  295,  296,  MSS. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  define  the  duties  of  the 
Stated  Clerk  of  the  General  Assembly  recommend  the  fol- 
lowing additional  duties: 

1.  It  shall  be  his  duty  to  furnish  all  the  stationery  for  the 
use  of  the  General  Assembly. 

2.  He  shall  furnish  a  docket  of  the  business  for  the  action 
of  the  General  Assembly,  as  taken  from  the  Minutes  of  the 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  161 

same,  and  such  other  business  as  may  be  forwarded  to  him 
from  time  to  time. 

3.  He  shall  transcribe  for  the  press  such  parts  as  may  be 
necessary  of  the  Minutes,  to  be  published  from  year  to  year; 
he  shall  correct  the  proof  and  superintend  the  printing  of 
all  minutes  and  papers  which  shall  be  ordered  to  be  printed 
by  the  General  Assembly.  He  shall  send  one  copy  to  each 
ordained  minister  in  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church, 
of  whose  address  he  may  be  informed,  and  to  any  other 
person  or  persons  that  the  General  Assembly  may  designate. 

4.  He  shall  copy  the  original  minutes  at  each  session. 

5.  He  shall  have  charge  of  all  the  books  and  papers  of  the 
General  Assembly  and  shall  cause  the  minutes  to  be  tran- 
scribed into  a  book  or  books  provided  for  the  purpose. — 
Adopted,  1837. 

10.  Treasurer  of  the  General  Assembly. 

(Note.— See  Rules  of  Order,  Section  22.) 

It  is  very  difficult  to  secure  accurate  and  full  information 
in  regard  to  the  Treasurers  in  the  earlier  years  of  the  As- 
sembly.   It  appears  that  none  was  elected  before  1834. 

In  1875,  for  various  and  wholesome  reasons,  the  Board  of 
Publication  was  made  Treasurer,  continuing  until  1903.  In 
1903,  Rev.  J.  M.  Hubbert,  Stated  Clerk,  was  elected  Treas- 
urer. Since  that  time,  tlie  Stated  Clerk  has  been  elected 
also  the  Treasurer.  Rev.  T.  H.  Padgett,  1906-7;  Rev.  Dr. 
Goodknight,  1907-14 ;  Rev.  D.  W.  Fooks,  1915  to  the  present 
time. 

11.  The  General  Assembly   Contingent  Tax. 

General  Regulations,  Section  12. — The  Church  courts, 
above  the  church  session,  may  from  time  to  time  make 
such  assessments  upon  their  constituent  bodies  as  may  be 
necessary  to  meet  the  contingent  expenses  of  the  court 
making  the  assessment;  may  provide  the  way  and  manner 
in  which  the  same  shall  be  paid,  and  prescribe  such  rules  in 
relation  thereto  as  may  be  deemed  necessary  to  secure  the 
prompt  payment  thereof. 


162  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

(1)  Tax  Based  on  the  Number  of  Communicants. 

The  following  recommendations  as  to  the  financial  opera- 
tions of  the  General  Assembly  were  made,  which  were 
adopted : 

1.  That  a  contingent  tax  equal  to  two  cents  for  each  com- 
municant within  the  bounds  of  the  Presbyteries  be  paid  over 
to  the  Stated  Clerk  of  the  General  Assembly  for  the  purpose 
of  defraying  its  incidental  expenses. 

2.  This  contingent  tax  shall  be  due  and  payable  on  the  firsi; 
day  of  May  in  each  year. — 1873,  p.  34. 

The  Committee  on  Finance  recommend  that  "the  con- 
tingent tax  upon  the  Presbyteries  be,  for  the  ensuing  year, 
three  cents  per  communicant."    Adopted. — 1875,  p.  38. 

(2)  Presbyteries,  not  Preachers  and  Churches,  Are  Taxed. 

Whereas,  there  appears  to  be  considerable  misinterpreta- 
tion of  the  language  used  by  the  Assembly  in  establishing 
the  contingent  tax ;  therefore  be  it 

Resolved:  That  in  the  use  of  the  phrase  "an  amount  of 
money  equal  to  one  dollar  for  every  ordained  minister,"  the 
Assembly  taxes  Presbyteries,  not  preachers,  and  does  not  by 
any  means  contemplate  that  the  preachers  pay  the  tax,  but 
that  the  Presbyteries  raise  the  amount  in  such  way  as  may 
appear  expedient,  by  tax  on  the  churches  or  otherwise.  Ap- 
proved.—1871,  p.  33. 

(3)  The  Stated  Clerk  Cannot  Remit  or  Compromise  the 

Contingent  Fund. 

The  General  Assembly  instructed  its  Stated  Clerk  not  to 
settle  by  compromise  any  claims  which  the  General  Assem- 
bly holds  against  the  Presbyteries,  but  to  inform  them  that 
the  Assembly  expects  them  to  pay  in  full  their  share  of  the 
necessary  expenses,  and  this  order  applies  to  Presbyteries 
which  have  heretofore  been  exempt  from  the  contingent 
tax.— 1896,  p.  30 ;  1897,  p.  62. 

(4)  The  Assembly  Alone  can  Remit  or  Compromise  the 

Contingent  Fund. 

The  Committee  on  Finance  submitted  the  following  re- 
port, which  was  adopted: 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  163 

A  Presbytery  has  asked  that  its  indebtedness  to  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  be  canceled  and  that  it  be  peiTnitted  to  use 
all  money  collected  for  work  within  its  own  bounds.  To  per- 
mit a  Presbytery  to  use  its  funds  wholly  within  its  own 
bounds  would  be  obviously  unjust  to  other  weak  Presby- 
teries and  would  establish  a  precedent  which  would  involve 
the  Assembly  in  endless  confusion.  We  therefore  recom- 
mend that  the  prayer  be  not  granted. — 1896,  p.  30;  1898,  p. 
63. 

(5)  No  Reimbursement  Can  Be  Made  to  Presbyteries  That 
Pay  Dues  after  the  Supply  of  the  Minutes  Is  Exhausted. 

That  no  reimbursement  of  credit  be  given  to  such  Presby- 
teries as  have  paid  up  their  delinquent  tax  without  receiv- 
ing the  former  Minutes,  seeing  that  the  supplies  have  been 
exhausted  and  that  the  printing  of  the  Minutes  requires 
only  a  small  part  of  the  contingent  tax.  Approved. — 1898, 
p.  63. 

(6)  The  Stated  Clerk  Must  Report  Delinquent  Presbyteries 

to  Their  Synods. 

That,  inasmuch  as  the  arrears  of  Presbyteries  on  con- 
tingent tax  amounts  to  over  two  thousand  dollars,  your 
Stated  Clerk  be  directed  to  confer  with  such  Presbyteries 
and  urge  them  to  pay  at  once  all,  or  such  part  of  their  in- 
debtedness as  they  may  be  able. 

That  your  Stated  Clerk  call  the  attention  of  Synods  to 
their  delinquent  Presbyteries  and  that  all  such  Presbyteries, 
by  the  counsel  and  direction  of  their  Synods,  reporT'to  the 
next  regular  meeting  of  the  General  Assembly  how  much  of 
their  arrears  they  can  and  are  willing  to  pay. 

That  in  any  case  in  the  future  where  the  contingent  tax 
of  a  Presbytery  has  been  due  for  one  year,  your  Stated  Clerk 
be  directed  to  call  the  attention  of  the  Synod  to  this  fact. 
Adopted.— 1898,  p.  63. 

12.  Miscellaneous  Regulations. 

(Note.— See  Stated  Clerk's  Report.— 1918,  p.  9-11.) 
Assembly  news  publicity.    See  Minutes,  1916,  p.  35. 


164  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

I.  The  Assembly's  Stated  Clerk. 

Besides  discharging  the  duties  named  in  Form  of  Govern- 
ment, the  Assembly  Stated  Clerk  is  required : 

1.  To  discharge  the  duties  of  Engrossing  Clerk,  appoint- 
ing such  Temporary  Clerks  at  each  meeting  of  the  Assem- 
bly as  may  be  needed  for  his  assistance.  Minutes,  1872,  p. 
31 ;  1873,  p.  34. 

2.  To  furnish  proper  statistical  blanks  to  the  Stated  Clerks 
of  the  lower  Church  Courts.  Minutes,  1873,  p.  34;  1897,  pp. 
24,  26. 

3.  To  repoi-t  inefficient  Stated  Clerks  to  their  Presbyteries 
and  Synods.    Minutes,  1889,  p.  52;  1891,  p.  15;  1898,  p.  51. 

4.  As  far  as  he  can  do  so  consistently  with  other  duties,  to 
visit  Church  Courts  and  congregations  and  give  encourage- 
ment and  direction  toward  the  general  welfare  of  the 
Church,  being  permitted  to  use  also  the  title  "General 
Travehng  Secretary."    See  Minutes  of  1901,  p.  115. 

5.  The  Stated  Clerk's  salary  is  $750  per  annum.  See  Min- 
utes, year  1916,  p.  73. 

6.  He  shall  also  employ  such  press  reporters  during  the 
sessions  of  the  Assembly  as  may  be  necessary  to  give  the 
Assembly  news  publicity.    See  Minutes,  1916,  p.  35. 

7.  The  Stated  Clerk  of  the  General  Assembly  was  in- 
structed not  to  publish  in  the  Minutes  of  the  General  As- 
sembly any  communications  or  reports  unfavorably  con- 
sidered by  the  Assembly.  (See  page  27,  Minutes  of  1917 
Assembly.) 

8.  We  recommend  that  the  printing  of  the  Minutes  of  the 
General  Assembly  (until  further  ordered)  be  done  by  our 
own  printing  plant.  The  New  Cumberland  Pi-ess,  and  that  it 
be  paid  a  price  of  not  exceeding  ten  per  cent  above  cost. 
(See  page  130,  Minutes  of  1917  Assembly.) 

II.  The  Assembly  Treasurer. 

The  Stated  Clerk  shall  also  act  as  the  Assembly's  Treas- 
urer, for  the  collection  and  handling  of  contingent  tax.  See 
Minutes  of  1900,  p.  47. 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  165 

III.  The  Assembly's  Contingent  Tax. 

The  Assembly's  contingent  tax  shall  be  five  cents  per 
resident  member,  due  July  1  each  year.  (Minutes,  1914,  p. 
146;  1908,  p.  99.)  Statement  sent  by  Stated  Clerk  July  1, 
based  on  resident  members,  to  each  Presbyterial  Treasurer. 
(Minutes,  1898,  p.  63 ;  1903,  p.  7.) 

The  Assembly's  Stated  Clerk  is  not  authorized  to  remit 
the  tax  of  a  Presbytery.  Any  Presbytery  regarding  itself 
as,  from  any  cause,  entitled  to  relief  from  this  tax  or  any 
portion  thereof  may,  by  the  counsel  of  and  dii^ction  of  its 
Synod,  petition  the  Assembly  to  that  effect.  (Minutes,  1898, 
p.  73.) 

IV.  The  Assembly's  Minutes. 

The  Assembly's  Minutes  will  be  sent,  free  of  charge,  to 
ordained  ministers,  clerks  of  sessions,  the  various  Boards 
and  schools  of  the  Church,  such  Synodical  and  Presbyterial 
Stated  Clerks  and  Treasurers  as  are  not  ministers  or  ses- 
sion clerks,  to  those  appointed  by  the  Assembly  to  serve  on 
committees  in  the  interim  of  Assembly  meetings,  to  the 
Stated  Clerk's  Exchange,  to  all  members  of  each  Assem- 
bly, and  a  copy  is  to  be  sent  to  any  probationer  requesting 
it  and  sending  ten  cents  to  cover  postage.  Others  desiring 
the  Minutes  can  secure  them  by  addressing  Rev.  D.  W. 
Fooks,  Paducah,  Ky.,  and  enclosing  50  cents.  (Minutes, 
1897,  p.  46;  1903,  p.  66;  1904,  p.  66. 

V.  Presbyterial  and  Synodical  Meetings. 

The  Assembly  directs  that  every  Presbytery  shall  hold  a 
"spring  meeting,"  and  as  early  as  possible,  that  the  Stated 
Clerks  of  Presbyteries  shall  have  their  reports  in  the  hands 
of  the  Assembly's  Stated  Clerk  not  later  than  May  1 ;  also 
that  summer  meetings  of  Church  courts  shall  be  held  late 
in  the  season,  in  order  that  there  may  have  been  sufficient 
time  to  become  familiar  with  the  deliverances  of  the  Assem- 
bly.    (See  pp.  39,  67 ;  Minutes  of  1898,  p.  52. 

VI.  Stated  Clerks  of  Presbyteries. 

1.  The  Assembly  recommends  that,  as  a  matter  of  con- 
venience and  efficiency.  Presbytery  shall  select  the  same  per- 


166  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

son  to  serve  as  its  Stated  Clerk  and  Treasurer  where  this  is 
practicable.     (Minutes,  1897,  p.  63. 

2.  This  Assembly  makes  it  a  standing  order  that  the  Stated 
Clerks  of  the  Presbyteries  are  to  have  their  statistical  and 
financial  and  other  reports  in  the  hands  of  the  General  As- 
sembly's Stated  Clerk  by  May  1  of  each  year,  that  there  may 
be  no  delay  in  publishing  the  Minutes  of  the  General  As- 
sembly. 

3.  The  Stated  Clerk  of  the  General  Assembly  has  been  di- 
rected not  to  delay  the  publishing  of  the  Minutes  on  account 
of  any  delay  in  Presbyterial  reports;  and,  in  default  of  re- 
port from  the  Stated  Clerk  in  any  Presbytery,  he  shall  pub- 
lish the  report  as  given  the  year  before.  (Minutes,  1909, 
p.  91.) 

VII.  Examination  of  Assembly  Minutes. 

The  Assembly  directs  that  each  church  court,  from  session 
to  Synod,  at  its  first  meeting  after  the  appearance  of  the 
Assembly  Minutes,  shall  conduct  in  open  meeting  a  care- 
ful examination  of  the  Minutes,  as  a  means  of  discovering 
whether  there  be  errors  and  omissions  in  the  same  and  who 
is  responsible  therefor,  so  that  the  clerks  of  Church  courts 
may  be  held  to  rigid  account  for  the  discharge  of  their  official 
duties.     (See  Minutes  of  1901,  p.  77.) 

VII.  Report  of  Boards  and   Permanent   Committees. 

1.  All  the  Assembly's  Boards  and  Permanent  Committees 
are  ordered  to  close  their  books  promptly  on  December  31 
(except  the  Board  of  Ministerial  Relief,  which  closes  its 
books  on  January  31)  and  to  have  their  annual  reports  in 
the  hands  of  the  Stated  Clerk  not  later  than  April  1,  in  order 
that  he  may  print  the  same  and  send  them  to  commissioners 
in  advance  of  the  Assembly's  meeting.  (See  Minutes  of 
1901,  p.  117;  1903,  p.  65.) 

2.  When  the  books  and  papers  of  any  Board  of  this  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  receiving  and  paying  out  money  for  any  pur- 
pose, are  submitted  to  a  special  auditing  committee  prior  to 
the  meeting  of  the  Assembly,  such  books,  papers,  receipts, 
stubs,  etc.,  together  with  report  of  said  special  committee 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  167 

shall  be  submitted  to  the  Assembly's  regular  auditing  com- 
mittee.   (See  Assembly  Minutes  for  year  1016,  p.  121.) 

IX.  Assembly's  Standing  Rule. 

In  1901  and  1915  the  General  Assembly  adopted  the  fol- 
lowing : 

Resolved  that: 

1.  Popular  meetings  shall  be  held  on  successive  evenings 
as  follows,  beginning  at  8  o'clock: 

Thursday — Home  Missions. 

Friday — Tithing. 

Saturday — Sunday  School  and  Young  People's  Work. 

Sunday — Education. 

Monday — Foreign  Missions. 

Tuesday — Ministerial  Relief. 

Wednesday — Publication. 

These  popular  meetings  shall  be  under  the  direction  of 
the  Boards  and  Committees,  respectively  having  these  in- 
terests specially  in  charge. 

2.  Friday  Forenoon — Assembly  Business: 
Appointment  of  Committees. 

Stated  Clerk's  Report. 

Communications  and  Overtures. 

Reports  of  Boards  and  Permanent  Committees,  etc. 

The  Boards  and  Committees  are  each  to  occupy  not  ex- 
ceeding thirty  minutes,  and  in  the  following  order: 

Educational. 

Missions  and  Church  Erection.  * 

Publication. 

Ministerial  Relief. 

Assembly  Trustees. 

As  a  rule,  papers  that  are  in  print  and  in  the  hands  of 
the  members  shall  be  accepted  as  having  been  read,  those 
presenting  them  having  opportunity  for  making  remarks 
within  the  limits  named. 

3.  Friday  Afternoon. — For  so  much  of  this  period  as  may 
be  necessary,  the  order  of  the  forenoon  is  to  be  continued. 

4.  Assembly  business  in  the  forenoons  of  Saturday,  Mon- 
day, Tuesday,  Wednesday,  Thursday,  and  Friday. 


168  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

5.  There  shall  be  no  business  session  of  the  Assembly  on 
the  afternoons  of  Saturday,  Monday,  Tuesday,  the  time 
being  devoted  to  Committee  work. 

6.  Reports  of  all  Standing  and  Special  Committees  shall 
be  considered  in  the  order  in  which  they  are  filed  with  the 
Stated  Clerk. 

7.  All  resolutions  touching  the  general  enterprises  of  the 
Church  must  be  referred  to  appropriate  Standing  Commit- 
tees for  consideration  before  they  can  be  taken  up  by  the 
body. 

8.  No  item  of  business  in  conflict  with  this  Standing  Rule 
shall  be  considered  except  by  suspension  of  the  Rule  by  a 
two-thirds  vote. 

9.  In  all  cases  not  provided  for  in  its  own  Rules  of  Order, 
the  Assembly  is  to  be  governed  by  Robert's  Rules  of  Order. 

10.  That  we  believe  it  would  be  wise  for  arrangements  to 
be  made  for  preaching  services  at  11  a.  m.  on  Saturday  and 
Monday  and  on  Saturday  and  Monday  afternoons  for  the 
benefit  of  the  visitors  or  the  commissioners  who  are  not  en- 
gaged in  the  committee  rooms,  these  arrangements  to  be 
made  by  the  pastor-host. 

Members  of  Church  Boards. 

(Original  resolution  of  1910  as  amended  in  1912.) 
To  the  Moderator  and  Members  of  the  Eighty-second  Gen- 
eral Assembly: 

Whereas,  there  is  no  uniform  number  which  constitutes 
the  Boards  of  our  Church : 

Resolved:  1.  That  in  no  case  should  there  be  more  than 
nine  members;  and  where  there  are  nine  members  in  the 
Board,  three  new  members  should  be  elected  each  year. 

2.  That  where  the  Board  is  constituted  of  a  less  number 
than  nine  that  one-third  of  the  members  should  be  elected 
each  year. 

3.  That  no  individual  shall  be  a  member  of  more  than  one 
Board. 

4.  That  each  Board  so  adjust  itself  as  to  comply  with 
these  rules  after  1910  General  Assembly. 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  169 

5.  That  each  Board  may  nominate  to  the  General  Assem- 
bly persons  to  fill  the  places  of  the  one-third  going  out  each 
year. — F.  A.  Brown. 

13.  The  Fiscal  Year  Closes  December  31. 

After  a  conference  with  the  Committees  on  Church  Gov- 
ernment, Overtures,  and  Education,  we  recommend  that  you 
make  the  fiscal  year  coincide  with  the  calendar  year  and 
that  this  fiscal  year  close  with  December  31,  1897.  We  sug- 
gest that  you  require  all  of  your  Boards,  Presbyteries, 
Synods,  and  church  sessions  to  conform  to  this  order. 
Adopted.— 1897,  p.  55.. 

That,  inasmuch  as  the  fiscal  year  has  been  made  to  coin- 
cide with  the  calendar  year,  each  Presbytery  shall  pay  tax 
on  the  number  of  ministers  and  churches  reported  in  the 
Assembly  Minutes,  and  this  tax  shall  fall  due  July  1,  at 
which  time  the  Stated  Clerk  of  the  Assembly  shall  send  a 
financial  statement  to  each  Presbyterial  Treasurer. 
Adopted.— 1898,  p.  63. 

14.  No  Titles  To  Be  Printed  after  Names. 

The  following  resolution  was  adopted: 

Resolved :  That  in  the  Minutes,  both  written  and  printed, 
of  this  General  Assembly  no  academic  or  honorary  titles 
shall  be  used. — 1881,  p.  7. 

15.  Statistical  Blanks. 

Resolved :  That  the  Stated  Clerk  be,  and  he  is  hereby,  in- 
structed to  prepare  blanks  that  will  enable  the  churches  to 
make  full  and  complete  reports  to  the  Presbyteries,  the 
Presbyteries  to  the  Synods,  and  the  Synods  to  the  General 
Assembly.— 1852,  p.  20. 

Resolved:  That  the  several  Presbyteries  be  and  are  here- 
by recommended  to  furnish  themselves  with  blank  forms  of 
reports,  printed  as  per  order  of  the  Assembly,  and  make 
their  annual  report  to  the  Stated  Clerk  of  the  Assembly 
at  an  early  period  after  the  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  next 
preceding  the  Assembly.    Adopted. — 1853,  p.  55. 


170  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

Resol-ved:  That  the  Stated  Clerk  have  published  with 
the  Minutes  a  statistical  report,  whenever  he  may  be  able  to 
secure  one  which  may  be  approximately  con^ct;  and  when- 
ever necessary  to  do  so,  he  will  place  himself  in  direct  com- 
munication with  the  church  sessions.  Adopted. — 1877,  p. 
35. 

Resolved:  That  this  General  Assembly  ask  the  Presby- 
teries throughout  the  Church  to  demand  of  their  Stated 
Clerks  full  and  complete  statistical  reports  from  the  con- 
gregations within  their  jurisdictions.  Adopted. — 1884,  p. 
34. 

16.  Mortuary  List  of  Ministers  To  Be  Printed. 

Resolved :  That  the  several  Presbyteries  be,  and  they  are 
hereby  requested,  to  make  out  a  list,  at  their  fall  sessions, 
in  1845,  and  biennially  thereafter,  of  the  names  of  all  the 
candidates,  licentiates,  and  ordained  ministers,  who  have  at 
any  time  died  in  their  respective  bounds,  specifying  their 
age,  the  date  of  their  death,  and  the  length  of  time  they 
have  been  connected  with  the  Presbytery.  Such  list  shall 
accompany  the  minutes  of  Presbytery  to  Synod,  there  to  be 
embodied  in  the  Synod's  records  and  forwarded  to  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  to  be  formed  into  a  general  schedule  for 
publication.     Adopted.— 1845,  p.  363,  MSS. 

Resolved:  That  in  the  printed  Minutes  of  this  General 
Assembly,  on-e  page,  or  more  if  necessary,  shall  be  set  apai*t 
as  a  memorial  page,  on  which  shall  be  printed  the  names  of 
deceased  ministers  properly  reported  to  the  Stated  Clerk. 
Adopted.— 1872,  p.  23. 

17.  Attitude  of  the  General  Assembly  toward  Other 

Churches. 

Constitution,  Section  43. — The  General  Assembly  shall 
have  the  power  to  correspond  with  other  Churches. 

This  General  Assembly  entertains  the  kindest  feelings 
towards  all  evangelical  denominations  of  Christians  and  is 
ready,  when  the  door  may  open,  to  enter  into  such  cor- 
respondence and  relations  with  them  as  shall  more  effec- 
tively oppose  the  kingdom  of  darkness  and  promote  pure 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  171 

religion  and  the  cause  of  Christ  in  the  world. — 1847,  p.  669, 

MSS. 

(1)  The  General  Assembly  Conducts  Fraternal  Corre- 

spondence. 

(Note. — The  General  Assembly  has  from  time  to  time 
conducted  fraternal  correspondence  with  the  following 
bodies  and  holds  it  a  privilege  to  fraternize  all  evangelical 
denominations  exhibiting  a  courteous  and  Christian  broth- 
erliness. — A.  C.  B.) : 

(a)  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  New 
School. 

(b)  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  Old 
School. 

(c)  United  Synod  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

(d)  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the 
United  States. 

(e)  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the 
United  States  of  America. 

(f)  General  Assembly  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church,  Colored. 

(g)  Conference  of  the  Evangelical  Union  of  Scotland, 
(h)  National  Council  of  the  Congregational  Churches, 
(i)  General  Synod  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church, 
(j)    General   Conference    of   the    Methodist   Protestant 

Church. 

(k)  General  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

(1)  General  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  South. 

(2)  The  General  Assembly  Repeatedly  Fails  in  Organic 

Union. 

In  the  past  history  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church  there  have  been  eight  several  occasions  when  its 
highest  court,  together  with  the  highest  court  of  another 
Church,  has  made  sincere  efforts  to  find  some  way  to  or- 
ganic union,  aside  from  the  renunciation  of  some  one  or 
more  of  the  fundamentals  of  our  system  of  doctrines.  FarJi 


172  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

one  of  these  sincere  efforts  ended  in  a  signal  failure  because 
they  found  that  they  could  not  yield  in  matters  vital  to  our 
standards.  These  successive  attempts  at  organic  union  go 
very  far  to  prove  that  our  fathers,  while  always  anxious  to 
meet  other  denominations  in  a  fraternal  way,  yet,  when  it 
came  to  the  subscription  to  a  yielding  or  a  compromise,  they 
found  that  they  could  not  give  up  doctrines  that  had  become 
dearer  to  them  than  life.  And  so,  with  failure  after  failure 
to  enter  into  organic  union  with  another,  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church  unites  its  voice  in  the  continuance  of 
the  testimony  of  history  that  no  gi'eat  Church  in  the  past 
has  ever  abandoned  its  beliefs  and  adopted  another  system. 
Organic  union  failures  were  as  follows: 

1.  Cumberland  Presbytery,  with  Synod  of  Kentucky. — 
Circular  Letter. 

2.  Cumberland  Presbyterian,  with  West  Tennessee  and 
Muhlenberg  Presbyteries. — Minutes,  1812. 

3.  Cumberland  Synod,  with  Synod  of  Tennessee. — Minutes, 
1827. 

4.  Cumberland  Presbyterian  General  Assembly,  with  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  U.  S.— 1867,  p.  16;  1868,  pp.  64-69. 

5.  Cumberland  Presbyterian  General  Assembly,  with  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  U.  S.  A.— 1873,  p.  22;  1874,  pp.  23, 
59-64. 

6.  Cumberland  Presbyterian  General  Assembly,  with  the 
General  Synod  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church. — 1882, 
p.  97 ;  1883,  pp.  30-31. 

7.  Cumberland  Pi^sbyterian  General  Assembly,  with  the 
General  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church. — 
1882,  pp.  94,  95 ;  1887,  pp.  33,  34. 

8.  Cumberland  Presbyterian  General  Assembly,  with  the 
Presbyterian  Church  U.  S.  A.— 1903-1906. 

18.  Attitude  of  the  Geiveral  Assembly  toward  Certain  Re- 
ligious Societies  and  other  Organizations. 

1.  The  Christian  Alliance. — Appoints  delegate  to  attend 
Union  Convention  to  meet  in  London. — 1846,  p.  483. 

2.  The  American  Sunday  School  Union. — Recommends  to 
the  various  congregations  sympathy  with  its  noble  purpose 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  173 

to  plant  a  Sunday  school  in  every  destitute  neighborhood. 
—1856,  p.  25. 

3.  The  American  Tract  Society. — Recommends  it  to  the 
confidence  and  support  of  our  people. — 1878,  p.  37. 

4.  The  National  Temperance  Convention. — Appoints  its 
Moderator  and  its  Stated  Clerk,  with  five  others,  to  repre- 
sent the  General  Assembly  in  the  Convention  at  Cleveland. 
—1868,  p.  15. 

5.  The  American  Bible  Society. — Frequently  commends 
this  noble  cause  and  recommends  that  collections  be  taken 
up  in  all  our  churches  annually  for  the  Bible  cause. — 1877, 
p.  36. 

6.  The  American  Bible  Union. — Condemns  this  (Baptist) 
Society  as  "sectarian,  intensely  sectarian,  and  dangerous." 
The  Assembly  adopted  a  strong  paper  condemning  this  So- 
ciety for  introducing  immersion  into  the  printed  Word  and 
warns  its  readers  against  the  unsound  as  well  as  unscientific 
translation. 

7.  The  Young  Men's  Christian  Association. — From  its  in- 
ception this  Association  has  held  a  close  touch  with  the  As- 
sembly.   Sent  and  received  fraternal  messages — 1883,  p.  14. 

8.  The  Woman's  National  Christian  Temperance  Union. — 
"Commends  the  National  Temperance  Union,  by  whose  un- 
tiring and  unselfish  efforts  scientific  temperance  instruc- 
tion has  become  a  part  of  the  course  of  study  in  the  public 
schools  of  some  thirty-six  States  in  the  Union." — 1894,  p.  52. 

9.  The  American  Sabbath  Union. — Sends  five  commis- 
sioners to  represent  the  Assembly  in  the  American  Sabbath 
Union.— 1889,  p.  38. 

10.  The  American  Anti-Saloon  League. — Corresponds  with 
its  headquarters,  delegates  to  its  Conventions,  passes  strong 
papers  upholding  the  work  in  every  State  of  our  land. 

19.  The  Bible  in  Our  Schools. 

Resolved:  That  in  the  judgment  of  this  Assembly  the 
Bible  is  eminently  worthy  of  a  place  and  should  be  care- 
fully studied  in  every  common  school,  seminary,  college,  and 
university,  and  that  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Christian  and  the 
patriot  wisely  and  actively  to  use  their  influence  to  cause 


174  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

the  Holy  Bible  to  occupy  the  position  which  it  deserves, 
that  its  most  benign  influence  may  be  experienced  in  all  the 
social,  ecclesiastical,  civil,  literary,  and  religious  relations  of 
every  community.    Adopted. — 1845,  p.  289,  MSS. 

Whereas,  the  papal  hierarchy  and  the  Romanizing  por- 
tions of  some  Protestant  denominations  are  fiercely  assail- 
ing, with  intent  to  destroy,  a  leading,  distinctive  principle 
of  the  Reformation  of  the  sixteenth  century,  a  primary  ele- 
ment of  Christianity — the  right  of  private  judgment;  and 
the  better  to  accomplish  this,  the  foes  of  an  open  Bible  are 
making  their  artful  and  sti-enuous  efforts  to  drive  it  from 
the  common  school,  the  people's  college,  and  to  take  it  from 
the  common  people ;  therefore  be  it 

Resolved:  That  in  point  of  fact,  Papal  ecclesiastics  and 
their  allies  are  the  fierce  and  bitter  enemies  of  civil  and  re- 
ligious liberty;  that  they  are  the  diligent  and  unyielding 
supporters  of  despotism.  Its  black  and  stagnant  blood  i-uns 
in  their  veins,  and  they  are  employing  all  their  skill  to  in- 
troduce its  maligant  and  deadly  virus  into  the  heart  and 
arteries  of  our  republic  and  to  bring  it  under  the  control  of 
their  blighting  hands  and  so  reduce  it  to  ruins  and  bind  us 
and  our  children  in  the  chains  of  despotism,  and 

Resolved :  That  as  we  value  liberty,  civil  and  religious,  and 
our  hope  for  the  present  and  the  future,  we  unflinchingly 
and  continually  maintain  the  right  of  private  judgment 
and  the  use  of  the  Bible  in  our  common  schools  and  higher 
institutions  of  learning.    Adopted — 1853,  p.  24. 

20.  The  Sacraments. 

Confession  of  Faith,  Section  98. — As  under  the  Old  Testa- 
ment dispensation  two  sacraments  were  ordained.  Circum- 
cision and  the  Passover;  so,  under  the  New  there  are  but 
two — that  is  to  say,  Baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper. 

(1)  Baptism. 

Confession  of  Faith,  Section  99-103. — Water-baptism  is  a 
sacrament  of  the  New  Testament,  ordained  by  Jesus  Christ 
as  a  sign  or  symbol  of  the  baptism  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and 
as  the  seal  of  the  Covenant  of  Grace. 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  175 

100.  The  outward  element  to  be  used  in  this  sacrament  is 
water,  wherewith  the  party  is  to  be  baptized  into  the  name 
of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  by  an 
ordained  minister  of  the  gospel. 

101.  Baptism  is  rightly  administered  by  pouring  or 
sprinkling  water  upon  the  person,  yet  the  validity  of  this 
sacrament  does  not  depend  upon  any  particular  mode  of 
administration. 

102.  The  proper  subjects  of  water-baptism  are  believing 
adults;  also  infants,  one  or  both  of  whose  parents  or  guar- 
dians are  believers. 

103.  There  is  no  saving  efficacy  in  water-baptism,  yet  it  is 
a  duty  of  all  believers  to  confess  Christ  in  this  solemn  or- 
dinance, and  it  is  also  the  duty  of  all  believing  parents  to 
consecrate  their  children  to  God  in  baptism. 

(a)  Baptism  of  Infants. 

In  the  judgment  of  this  General  Assembly  it  is  the  duty 
of  parents  professing  godliness  to  have  their  children  bap- 
tized.—1845,  p.  285,  MSS. 

The  Constitution  (Sec.  3)  of  the  Church  says:  "The  in- 
fant children  of  believers  are,  through  the  covenant  and  by 
right  of  birth,  entitled  to  baptism."  In  the  Confession  of 
Faith  (Sec.  102),  infants  of  believing  parents  are  declared 
to  be  "proper  subjects  of  water-baptism."  The  Constitu- 
tion (Sec.  27)  makes  it  the  duty  of  ruling  elders  to  "urge 
upon  parents  the  importance  of  presenting  their  children 
for  baptism."  It  is  hardly  necessary  to  say  in  this  connec- 
tion that  it  is  the  duty  of  the  minister  in  charge  of  a  church 
to  indoctrinate  his  people  on  this  subject. 

We  recommend  that  you  call  the  special  attention  of  your 
Presbyteries  to  the  dereliction  of  parents  in  this  matter 
and  to  the  importance  of  instructing  their  ministers  to  im- 
press upon  the  people  their  duty.  Ruling  elders,  too,  should 
be  made  to  feel  a  responsibility  for  any  neglect  of  this  im- 
portant matter  in  their  various  churches.  Adopted. — 1897, 
pp.  45,  46. 

(b)  May  one  baptized  in  infancy  be  baptized  again? 
Your    Committee    have    duly    considered    the    question, 

wh-ether  a  "minister  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church 


176  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

may  administer  the  ordinance  of  baptism  to  a  person  who 
has  been  baptized  in  infancy,"  propounded  by  the  Miami 
Presbytery. 

Chapter  28,  Section  7,  of  our  Confession  of  Faith,  is  in 
these  words:  "The  sacrament  of  baptism  is  but  once  to  be 
administered  to  any  person,  there  being  no  example  for  the 
repetition  of  Christian  baptism." 

Regarding  this  as  conclusive  on  the  question,  your  Com- 
mittee report  accordingly,  a  negative  answer.  Adopted. — 
1880,  p.  23. 

(c)  Presbyteries  and  Sessions  should  enforce  the  law  in 
reference  to  baptism. 

We  have  had  before  us  a  memorial  from  the  Presbytery 
of  Sparta,  which  is  as  follows: 

"Whereas,  there  is  great  inconsistency  in  respect  to  the 
ordinance  of  baptism  as  administered  by  the  ministers  of 
our  Church,  and  great  negligence  in  respect  to  infant  bap- 
tism, we  would  beg  that  you  discontenance  the  unscriptural 
mode  of  dipping  persons  into  the  water,  and  that  you  urge 
it  upon  the  parents  in  the  Church  to  dedicate  their  children 
to  God  in  the  act  of  baptism,  and  bring  them  up  in  the  nur- 
ture and  admonition  of  the  Lord." 

Your  Committee  are  of  opinion  that  your  Confession  of 
Faith  and  Form  of  Government  define  with  sufficient  clear- 
ness the  Bible  doctrine  upon  these  questions,  and  it  is  in 
the  power  of  the  Sessions  and  Presbyteries  to  enforce  these 
regulations.  We  therefore  recommend  that  you  make  no 
further  deliverance  on  the  subject.    Adopted. — 1876,  p.  19. 

(2)  The  Lord's  Supper. 

(a)  Should  be  celebrated  at  least  once  a  quarter. 
Resolved:  That  this  General  Assembly  recommend  that 

each  church  have  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  ad- 
ministered at  least  quarterly.    Adopted. — 1854,  p.  31. 

(b)  Pure  "fruit  of  the  vine"  should  be  used. 
The  following  resolution  was  adopted : 

Resolved:  That  we  recommend  to  all  our  churches, 
through  the  Presbyteries,  to  procure  and  use  the  pure  "fruit 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  177 

of  the  vine"  in  the  observance  of  the  Lord's  Supper. — 1877, 
p.  34. 

(c)  General  Assembly  Communion. 

It  was  determined  that  hereafter  the  Assembly  shall  ob- 
serve the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  on  Thursday,  the 
first  day  of  the  Assembly's  sittings,  at  8  o'clock  p.  m.,  and 
that  the  retiring  Moderator  and  the  pastor  of  the  church 
with  which  the  Assembly  meets  shall  conduct,  or  arrange 
for,  said  service. — 1897,  p.  29. 

(Note. — Such  was  a  standing  rule  of  the  General  Assem- 
bly for  several  years,  until  iOOl,  when  "Popular  Meetings" 
takes  the  Thursday  night  hour,  and  minutes  do  not  show 
the  observance  of  the  Communion.  Nor  do  we  find  in  any 
minute  from  that  time  till  1909,  when  the  Assembly  re- 
sumed its  observance.  Since  that  time  it  has  been  usual  to 
observe  the  communion  Sunday  after  preaching,  though  once 
it  was  held  Sunday  night  and  once  Sunday  afternoon. — 
A.  C.  B.) 

21.  Secret  and  Family  Worship. 

Directory  for  Worship,  Sections  31-35. — Besides  the  pub- 
lic worship  in  congregations,  it  is  the  indispensable  duty  of 
each  person  alone  in  secret,  and  every  family  by  itself  in  pri- 
vate, to  pray  and  to  worship  God. 

32.  Secret  worship  is  most  plainly  enjoined  by  our  Lord. 
In  this  duty  every  one,  apart  by  himself,  is  to  spend  some 
time  in  prayer,  reading  the  Scriptures,  holy  meditation,  and 
serious  self-examination.  The  many  advantages  arising 
from  a  conscientious  discharge  of  these  duties  are  best 
known  to  those  who  are  found  in  the  faithful  discharge  of 
them. 

33.  Family  worship,  which  ought  to  be  perfonned  by 
every  family,  ordinarily  morning  and  evening,  consists  in 
prayer,  reading  the  Scriptures,  and  singing  praises. 

34.  The  head  of  the  family,  who  is  to  lead  in  this  service, 
ought  to  be  careful  that  all  members  of  his  household  duly 
attend,  and  that  none  \vithdraw  themselves  unnecessarily 
from  any  part  of  family  worship,  and  that  all  refrain  from 
their  common  business  while  the  Scriptures  are  read  and 


178  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

gravely  attend  to  the  same,  no  less  than  when  prayer  or 
praise  is  offered  up. 

35.  Let  heads  of  families  be  careful  to  instruct  their  chil- 
dren and  servants  in  the  principles  of  religion.  Every  proper 
opportunity  ought  to  be  embraced  for  such  instruction.  The 
Sabbath  evenings,  after  public  worship,  should  be  sacred- 
ly preserved  for  this  purpose.  Making  unnecessary  private 
visits  on  the  Lord's  day,  admitting  strangers  into  the  fam- 
ilies, except  when  necessity  or  charity  requires  it,  or  any 
other  practices,  whatever  plausible  pretenses  may  be  offered 
in  their  favor,  if  they  interfere  with  the  above  important 
and  necessaiy  duty,  should  be  avoided. 

Resolved:  That  this  General  Assembly  expresses  with 
deep  regret  its  sorrow  at  the  fact  that  family  worship  is 
not  kept  up  as  it  should  be,  and  that  we  urge  upon  our  mem- 
bership, through  their  ministers,  the  importance  of  the 
family  altar.     Adopted. — 1883,  p.  25. 

22.  Sanctification  of  th«  Lord's  Day. 

Directory  for  Worship,  Sections  1-6. — It  is  the  duty  of 
every  person  to  remember  the  Lord's  day  and  to  prepare  for 
it  before  its  approach.  All  worldly  business  should  be  so 
ordered  and  seasonably  laid  aside,  as  that  no  one  may  be 
hindered  from  sanctifying  the  Sabbath,  as  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures require. 

2.  The  entire  day  is  to  be  kept  holy  to  the  Lord  and  to  be 
employed  in  the  public  and  private  exercises  of  religion. 
Therefore,  it  is  requisite  that  there  be  a  holy  resting,  all  the 
day,  from  unnecessary  labors,  and  an  abstaining  from  those 
recreations  which  may  be  lawful  on  other  days ;  and  also,  as 
much  as  possible,  from  worldly  thoughts  and  conversation. 

3.  Let  the  provisions  for  the  support  of  the  family  on  that 
day  be  so  ordered  that  servants  or  others  be  not  improperly 
detained  from  the  public  worship  of  God  nor  hindered  from 
sanctifying  the  Sabbath. 

4.  Let  every  person  and  family,  in  the  morning,  by  secret 
and  private  prayer,  for  themselves  and  others,  especially 
for  the  assistance  of  God  to  their  minister  and  for  a  bless- 
ing upon  his  ministry,  by  reading  the  Scriptures  and  by  holy 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  179 

meditation,  prei)are  for  communion  with  God  in  his  pubHc 
ordinances. 

5.  Let  the  people  be  careful  to  assemble  at  the  appointed 
time;  that,  being  all  present  at  the  beginning,  they  may 
unite  with  one  heart  in  all  the  parts  of  public  worship,  and 
let  none  unnecessarily  depart  until  after  the  benediction. 

6.  Let  the  time  after  the  solemn  services  of  the  congre- 
gation in  pubhc  are  over  be  spent  in  reading,  meditation, 
reading  of  sermons,  catechising,  religious  conversation, 
prayer  for  a  blessing  upon  the  public  ordinances,  singing 
psalms,  hymns,  or  spiritual  songs,  visiting  the  sick,  reliev- 
ing the  poor,  and  in  performing  such  like  duties  of  piety, 
charity,  and  mercy. 

(1)  How  the  Sabbath  Should  Be  Spent. 

The  following  was  adopted : 

1.  That  it  is  the  duty  of  every  Christian  to  observe  and 
defend  the  Sabbath  and  to  keep  it  holy  by  spending  it  in  a 
way  that  will  honor  God  and  nourish  and  strengthen  his  own 
soul. 

2.  That  Christians  should  not  spend  the  day  in  social  visit- 
ing and  feasting. 

3.  That  it  is  a  sin  and  shame  to  spend  the  day  in  idleness 
or  in  frivolous  pastime. 

4.  That  parents  should  require  their  children  to  attend 
church  and  not  turn  them  loose  after  Sabbath  school  to 
spend  the  remainder  of  the  day  as  they  please. 

5.  That  Christians  should  not  encourage  Sunday  news- 
papers by  buying  them,  reading  them,  advertising  in  them, 
or  in  other  way. 

6.  That  Sunday  trains  and  excursions  are  evils  that  no 
Christian  should  encourage. 

7.  That  base-ball,  picnics,  and  all  similar  amusements  are 
gross  and  sinful  desecrations  of  the  Sabbath  day. — 1891, 
p.  36. 

(2)  Church  Members'  Duty. 
The  following  was  adopted : 

We  do  hereby  call  the  attention  of  our  entire  membership 
to  the  necessity  of  the  careful  observance  of  the  Christian 


180  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

Sabbath,  and  so  much  the  more  as  Rationalism,  Infidelity 
and  Romanism  are  combining  their  energies  to  destroy  the 
sanctity  of  God's  holy  day,  and  substituting  therefor  a  day 
of  mere  recreation  and  amusement. — 1874,  p.  28. 

(3)  Pastors  Should  Gall  the  Attention  of  the  People  to  This 

Subject. 

The  following  resolutions  were  adopted : 

Resolved:  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  General  Assembly 
that  it  is  the  duty  of  all  the  preachers  and  pastors  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  to  call  the  attention  of 
their  congregations  frequently  to  the  duty  of  a  Scriptural 
observance  of  the  Sabbath,  setting  forth  what  the  require- 
ment is,  the  blessings  promised  for  a  proper,  and  the  curses 
that  shall  follow  an  improper,  use  hereof. 

2.  That  hereafter,  with  other  standing  committees,  there 
shall  be  appointed  by  the  Moderator  of  the  General  Assem- 
bly a  committee  to  be  called  the  Committee  on  the  Preven- 
tion of  Sabbath  Desecration,  whose  duty  it  shall  bs  to  con- 
sider and  report  upon  the  same  as  other  standing  commit- 
tees and  that  Synods  and  Presbyteries  are  hereby  requested 
to  appoint  a  similar  standing  committee  at  each  of  their 
meetings.— 1879,  p.  28. 

(4)  Ministers  Should  Set  a  Good  Example. 

The  General  Assembly  decided  that  "if  any  member  travel 
on  the  Sabbath  day,  in  going  to  or  returning  from  the  As- 
sembly, he  be  dealt  \^dth  for  an  immorality." — 1852,  p.  31. 
The  following  recommendation  was  adopted: 
That  your  ministers  be  urged  to  set  the  example  to  their 
flocks  and  the  community  by  rigidly  observing  this  holy  day ; 
by  discouraging  the  prevalent  reading  of  secular  papers  on 
that  day,  and  the  insertion  of  church  notices  and  services 
in  the  Sabbath  issues  of  said  papers,  and  by  needless  rail- 
road travel,  even  to  fill  pupit  engagements. — 1884,  p.  31. 

(5)  Sunday  Mail  and  Sunday  Trains. 

We  have  had  before  us  a  paper  from  the  chairman  of  the 
Committee  on  Sabbath  Observance,  of  the  Southern  Presby- 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  181 

terian  Church,  asking  your  co-operation  in  calling  the  at- 
tention of  the  civil  authorities  to  the  "Sabbath  question," 
"especially  to  the  running  of  the  railroad  trains  and  the 
delivery  of  mail  on  the  Lord's  day."  While  we  deplore  the 
fact  that  trains  are  run  and  mail  is  delivered  on  the  Sab- 
bath, yet  we  do  not  see  the  consistency  in  invoking  the  civil 
power  to  check  the  evil,  while  our  business  men  make  the 
demand  for  handling  and  carrying  freight,  and  while  min- 
isters and  church  members  demand  the  running  of  trains 
and  the  delivery  of  mails  on  the  Sabbath.  We,  therefore, 
recommend  that  this  General  Assembly  insist  upon  the  bet- 
ter observance  of  this  day  by  all  the  members  of  the  Church, 
to  the  end  that  a  public  sentiment  may  be  cultivated)  in  its 
favor,  and  that  the  chairman  of  the  permanent  Committee 
on  Sabbath  Observance  be  instructed  to  correspond  with  the 
chaiiTnan  of  a  similar  committee  in  the  Southern  Presby- 
terian Church,  pledging  the  hearty  co-operation  of  the  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  Church  in  any  judicious  movement 
looking  to  the  better  observance  of  the  Sabbath.  Adopted. 
—1882,  p.  21. 

That  we  deplore  the  fact  that  our  government  compels 
Sabbath  desecration  by  its  mail  service,  and  that  we  think 
that  church  members  should  not  go  to  the  post  office  on  the 
Sabbath  or  otherwise  encourage  Sunday  mails.  Adopted. — 
1891,  p.  36. 

(6)  The  General  Assembly  Was  Opposed  to  Opening  Gates 
of  Columbian  Exposition  on  the  Sabbath. 

That  we  are  decidedly  and  unalterably  opposed  to  the 
opening  of  any  department  of  the  Columbian  Exposition  on 
the  Sabbath,  and  desire  to  put  the  Cumberland  Presbyte- 
rian Church  on  record  as  opposing  it.  Adopted. — 1891,  p. 
36. 

Whereas,  It  has  come  to  the  knowledge  of  your  Com- 
mittee that  the  managers  of  the  World's  Columbian  Ex- 
position have  determined  to  open  the  gates  of  the  Exposi- 
tion on  next  Sabbath  day.  Therefore  your  Committee  here- 
by recommend  that  the  Stated  Clerk  of  this  Assembly  be 
directed  to  send  at  once  a  telegram  to  said  managers  pro- 


182  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

testing  against  such  opening  of  the  gates.    Adopted. — 1893, 
p.  12. 

23.  Worldly  Amusements. 

Whereas,  there  is  no  specific  law  in  the  Discipline  of  this 
Church  forbidding  the  members  thereof  attending  fashion- 
able balls  and  parties,  theatres,  circuses,  and  such  places  of 
worldly  amusement  for  carnal  indulgence  of  mere  human 
merriment,  gotten  up  and  mainly  sustained  by  those  who 
are  not  connected  with  the  evangelical  Church ;  therefore 

Resolved  by  this  General  Assembly:  That  in  all  such  in- 
stances where  members  of  our  Church  are  kno\\Ti  to  attend 
such  places  for  purposes  of  participating  in  them,  they  shall 
be  held  responsible  to  the  Church  session  of  the  congi-ega- 
tion  where  such  member  holds  his  or  her  membership,  and 
that  Church  sessions  are  hereby  instructed  to  adopt  such 
rules  in  their  respective  congregations  as  may  forbid  such 
conduct.  Adopted. — 1852,  p.  30. 

The  Assembly  of  1852  adopted  preambles  and  resolutions 
disapproving  the  practice  of  church  members  attending 
places  of  carnal  amusements,  advising  Church  sessions  to 
adopt  the  most  prudent  and  effective  measures  to  lessen  the 
evil.  "Be  not  conformed  to  this  world,"  is  one  of  the  pre- 
cepts too  frequently  ignored  by  the  practice  of  the  professed 
disciples  of  Christ.  Ministers  and  sessions  might  subserve 
the  cause  of  practical  godliness  by  calling  the  attention  of 
their  people  to  the  advice  of  a  previous  Assembly  to  which 
reference  has  been  made.    Adopted. — 1861,  p.  15. 

Whereas,  the  cause  of  Christ  demands  that  the  children 
of  God  should  live  soberly,  as  well  as  righteously  and  godly, 
in  this  world — cleansing  themselves  from  all  ungodliness 
and  worldly  lusts,  and  taking  up  their  cross  and  following 
their  Master  in  meek  and  holy  living — thus  by  their  walk 
and  conversation  letting  their  light  shine  and  truly  com- 
mending the  religion  of  Christ  to  the  confidence  and  ac- 
ceptance of  all  men;  therefore  be  it 

Resolved  by  this  General  Assembly,  as  expressed  by 
former  Assemblies,  that  the  practice  of  promiscuous  danc- 
ing, as  an  amusement,  by  professed  Christians,  as  well  as 
attendance  upon  such  places  of  amusement,  is  hereby  de- 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  183 

clared  to  be  inconsistent  with  the  Christian  profession  and 
the  pure  and  sacred  obligations  of  our  holy  religion,  and 
that  Presbyteries  and  Church  sessions  are  advised  that  mem- 
bers persisting  in  such  practice  are  proper  subjects  of 
Church  discipline.    Adopted. — 1870,  p.  31. 

In  response  to  the  overture  to  this  General  Assembly 
from  the  Presbytery  of  Lebanon,  the  Committee  beg  leave 
to  say  that  while  former  General  Assemblies  have  expressed 
their  condemnation  of  dancing,  and  this  Assembly  does  think 
it  best  for  Christians  to  take  no  part  in  the  dance,  yet  we 
believe  that  we  can,  as  a  General  Assembly,  do  no  more 
than  has  been  done,  except  to  exhort  all  our  members  to  re- 
frain from  the  dance,  and  to  leave  all  further  questions  about 
it  to  church  sessions,  to  act  in  each  particular  case  in  such 
manner  as  the  session  in  its  discretion  may  deem  proper, 
subject,  of  course,  to  the  direction  of  its  own  Presbytery. 
Adopted.— 1872,  p.  15. 

The  following  was  adopted: 

Your  Committee  have  considered  the  memorial  submitted 
to  them,  asking  for  a  definition  of  the  phrase  "promiscuous 
dancing,"  contained  in  a  foiTner  deliverance  of  your  rev- 
erend body,  and  while  this  is  not  strictly  a  matter  of  legal 
cognizance,  we  beg  to  say  that  in  our  opinion  the  expression 
refered  to  should  be  understood  to  mean  mixed  dancing, 
confused  dancing,  indiscriminate  dancing,  and  dancing  in 
which  both  sexes  engage.  In  short,  any  dancing  which  can- 
not be  conscientiously  commended  by  an  upright,  conse- 
crated member  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. — 
1894,  p.  43. 

A  memorial  from  Texas  Synod  has  been  referred  to  us, 
asking  that  a  specific  law  be  "incorporated  in  the  Rules  of 
Discipline,"  forbidding  "dancing,  theatre-going,  and  card- 
playing." 

The  Committee  think  that  the  matters  complained  of  need 
not  be  expressed  in  a  specific  law,  inasmuch  as  section  three 
of  the  Church  Covenant  of  the  Confession  of  Faith,  properly 
interpreted,  includes  such  things ;  and  since  we  believe  them 
to  be  evil,  and  only  evil,  we  recommend  that  this  General 
Assembly  declare  its  disapproval  of  such  practices  and  urge 


184  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

the  ministers  and  church  sessions  to  instruct  and  exhort 
the  members  to  refrain  from  participating  in  these  evils, 
which  are  altogether  unprofitable  and  inconsistent  with 
Christian  character;  and,  whenever  necessary,  that  dis- 
cipline be  exercised  according  to  the  Constitution  of  the 
Church.    Adopted.— 1895,  p.  20. 

24.  Deliverances  on  Temperance. 

Unanimously  resolved:  That  this  Genera)  Assembly  do 
most  earnestly  recommend  that  no  minister  of  the  gospel  or 
ruling  elder,  or  member  of  the  Church  shall  engage  in  re- 
tailing ardent  spirits  or  disposing  of  them  in  any  other  way. 
—1836,  p.  268,  MSS. 

Resolved:  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  General  Assembly 
that  to  make,  buy,  or  use  as  a  beverage  any  spirituous  or 
intoxicating  liquors  is  an  immorality ;  that  it  is  not  only  un- 
authorized, but  forbidden  by  the  Word  of  God.  We  do, 
therefore,  request  the  several  churches  under  our  care  to 
abstain  wholly  from  their  use.    Adopted. — 1851,  p.  13. 

Resolved:  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  General  Assembly 
that  it  is  a  sin  to  make,  buy,  sell,  give,  or  in  any  way  use  as 
a  beverage,  intoxicating  drinks  of  any  description. 

Resolved :  That  in  cases  where  church  members  persist  in 
the  violation  of  the  principles  herein  stated  the  church  ses- 
sions be  urged  to  deal  with  such  offenders  and  free  the 
Church  from  the  guilt  and  scandal  of  such  unchristian  con- 
duct. 

Resolved :  That  inasmuch  as  these  evils  of  such  immense 
magnitude  can  be  successfully  resisted  only  by  associated 
effort,  our  ministers  and  members  are  advised  to  encourage 
temperance  organizations  wherever  it  is  practicable. 

Resolved:  That  we  heartily  approve  the  temperance 
legislation  which  has  been  had  in  several  of  the  States  re- 
cently, and  we  earnestly  recommend  our  people  to  aid  by  all 
prudent  means,  the  enforcement  of  temperance  laws  where 
they  exist.    Adopted.— 1873,  p.  19. 

That  we,  as  a  Church,  stand  squarely  and  unequivocally 
in  favor  of  prohibition,  and  hereby  pledge  ourselves  to  aid  in 
every  laudable  enterprise  that  in  any  way  looks  to  the  over- 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  185 

throw  of  the  accursed  liquor  traffic,  now  licensed  and  pro- 
tected by  the  general  government  and  most  of  the  States. 
Adopted.— 1889,  p.  35. 

That  you  declare  as  the  solemn  conviction  of  this  General 
Assembly  that  no  man  nor  party  which  refuses  or  fails  to 
assume  an  attitude  of  open  and  uncompromising  hostility 
toward  the  liquor  traffic  should  expect  or  receive  the  vote 
of  any  Christian  citizen  of  this  country.  Approved. — 1894, 
p.  52. 

Your  Committee  on  Temperance  beg  to  submit  the  fol- 
lowing : 

Cumberland  Presbyterians  have  never  given  out  any  un- 
certain sounds  on  this  subject. 

From  Dan  to  Beersheba,  whei^ver  there  is  a  fight  on  this 
great  vital  question,  Cumberland  Presbyterians  have  been 
found  in  the  forefront  of  the  battle. 

Some  people  have  tired  and  quit  the  field ;  but  we  would 
remind  such  faint-hearted  people  that  there  has  been  a  con- 
test between  sin  and  evil  ever  since  Cain  slew  Abel  and 
asked:  "Am  I  my  brother's  keeper?" 

We  are  glad  to  see  by  the  persistent  efforts  of  God's  peo- 
ple, assisted  by  his  Holy  Spirit,  righteousness  has  prevailed 
and  sin  and  wickedness  have  not  overcome. 

The  one  that  quits  the  fight  against  this  great  sin  has 
at  least  half  way  joined  himself  to  the  erring  and  is  not  the 
desirable  citizen  he  ought  to  be. 

We  are  glad  to  note  that  the  sentiment  against  drinking 
liquor  has  increased-  The  one  that  goes  into  a  saloon  for  a 
drink  does  not  want  his  respectable  friend  to  catch  him 
there. 

We  further  recommend  that  our  preachers  in  their  work 
be  zealous  and  prudent  in  their  efforts  against  the  awful 
drink  habit;  also  that  our  fathers  and  mothers  teach  their 
children  to  avoid  the  drink  habit  and  to  look  upon  it  as  their 
deadly  enemy. 

We,  your  Committee  on  Temperance,  feel  that  all  of  this 
has  always  been  important,  but  perhaps  more  so  now  than 
ever  before  on  account  of  the  strong  prevailing  soft  drink 


186  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

habit,  and  also  the  fearful  tendency  to  resort  to  opiates  for 
the  easing  of  pain. 

We  feel  that  it  is  vital  that  we  as  a  Church  educate  our- 
selves against  these  growing  tendencies. — 1913,  p.  198. 

25.  Resolutions  on  the  Use  of  Tobacco. 

Resolved:  That  as  the  use  of  tobacco  has  grown  to  be  a 
national  evil  and  is  seriously  hurtful  to  ministerial  influence 
and  usefulness,  this  General  Assembly  counsels  the  ministers 
of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  against  the  use  of 
tobacco  in  any  form  whatever;  also,  that  this  counsel  be 
earaestly  pressed  upon  the  attention  of  the  candidates  for 
the  ministry  in  all  our  Presbyteries. — 1886,  p.  30. 

Resolved :  That  the  Board  of  Education  is  hereby  instruct- 
ed to  give  no  aid  to  any  candidate  for  the  ministry  in  se- 
curing an  education  who  uses  tobacco,  and  that  it  is  the 
duty  of  the  Board  of  Education  to  know,  before  aiding  any 
student,  that  he  does  not  use  tobacco.  Adopted. — 1889,  p. 
51. 

26.  On  the  Preservation  of  the  Union. 

The  following  preamble  and  resolution  were  almost  unan- 
imously adopted : 

Whereas,  in  the  opinion  of  this  Assembly  the  preserva- 
tion of  the  union  of  the  States  is  essential  to  the  civil  and 
religious  liberty  of  the  people,  and  it  is  regarded  as  proper 
and  commendable  in  the  Church,  andi  more  particularly  in 
the  branch  which  we  represent  (it  having  had  its  origin  as 
a  denomination  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States  of 
America  and  that  soon  after  the  blood  of  our  revolutionary 
fathers  had  ceased  to  flow  in  that  unequal  contest  through 
which  they  were  successfully  conducted  by  the  strong  arm 
of  Jehovah)  to  express  its  devotion  on  all  suitable  occasions 
to  the  government  of  their  choice ;  therefore  be  it 

Resolved:  That  this  General  Assembly  look  with  concern 
and  disapprobation  upon  attempts  from  any  quarter  to  dis- 
solve the  union  andi  would  regard  the  success  of  any  such 
movement  as  exceedingly  hazardous  to  the  cause  of  religious 
as  well  as  civil  liberty.  And  this  General  Assembly  would 
strongly  recommend  to  all  Christians  to  make  it  a  subject  of 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  187 

prayer  to  Almighty  God  to  avert  from  our  beloved  country 
a  catastrophe  so  direful  and  disastrous. — 1850,  p.  13. 

(1)  Deliverance  on  War  Resolutions. 

The  following  resolutions,  offered  by  Dr.  Milton  Bird, 
were  adopted: 

Whereas,  according  to  the  plain  teaching  of  our  Confes- 
sion of  Faith,  Synods  and  Councils  are  to  handle  and  con- 
clude nothing  except  that  which  is  ecclesiastical  and  are  not 
to  interfere  with  the  affairs  of  the  commonwealth,  etc. ;  and. 

Whereas,  our  Civil  Constitution  wisely  separates  Church 
and  State;  and, 

Whereas,  it  is  of  momentous  interest  to  the  Church  to 
recognize,  practically  as  well  as  in  theory,  the  great  truth 
taught  by  the  Saviour — viz. :  that  his  kingdom  is  not  of  this 
world;  therefore  be  it 

Resolved:  1.  That  this  General  Assembly  is  opposed  to 
every  movement,  coming  from  any  quarter,  that  looks  to  a 
union  of  Church  and  State. 

2.  That  we  are  opposed  to  the  prostitution  of  the  pulpit, 
the  religious  press,  or  our  ecclesiastical  courts,  to  the  ac- 
complishment of  political  and  sectional  purposes. 

3.  That  any  expression  of  political  sentiment,  made  by 
any  judicatory  of  our  Church,  North,  South,  East,  or  West, 
is  unnecessary,  and  no  part  of  the  legitimate  business  of  an 
ecclesiastical  court. 

4.  That  nothing  in  the  foregoing  shall  be  construed  as  an 
expression  of  opinion  upon  slavery  or  rebellion. — 1866,  pp. 
48,  49. 

The  following  was  adopted: 

Whereas,  the  Assemblies  of  both  the  Old  and  New  School 
Presbyterian  Churches  have  set  apart  next  Wednesday  after- 
noon as  a  season  of  thanksgiving  and  prayer  to  God  for  our 
country,  in  compliance  with  the  proclamation  of  the  Presi- 
dent; therefore  be  it 

Resolved:  That  this  Assembly  join  those  bodies  in  ob- 
serving Wednesday  afternoon  as  a  season  of  thanksgiving 
and  prayer  for  our  country. — 1864,  pp.  116,  117. 

Whereas,  this  Assembly  is  composed  of  members  repre- 


188  NEW  CUMBEKLAND  DIGEST. 

senting  a  large  proportion  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church  in  the  United  States  of  America,  in  token  of  our 
loyalty  to  the  Federal  government  of  the  same;  therefore 
be  it  , 

Resolved:  That  the  Trustees  of  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian Church  house  in  which  we  have  met  (Lebanon,  Ohio) 
be  requested  to  hoist  the  national  flag  over  this  house  and 
keep  the  same  there  during  the  sittings  of  this  Assembly. 
—1864,  p.  108. 

(2)  Assassination  of  President  Lincoln. 

A  committee  was  appointed  to  prepare  a  paper  expressing 
the  sentiment  of  the  General  Assembly  on  the  assassination 
of  President  Lincoln.  The  report  of  the  Committee  was 
unanimously  adopted  and  is  as  follows: 

Whereas,  since  the  last  meeting  of  the  General  Assembly 
of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  the  Chief  Magis- 
trate of  the  United  States  has  been  ruthlessly  and  barbar- 
ously murdered;  and. 

Whereas,  it  is  deemed  becoming  and  proper  that  this 
General  Assembly,  in  common,  probably,  \vith  all  other 
bodies  of  similar  character,  assembhng  this  season,  should 
give  expression  of  sentiment  touching  a  matter  of  such 
transcendent  importance  to  the  welfare  of  this  nation; 
therefore  be  it 

Resolved :  That  in  the  death  of  President  Lincoln  the  peo- 
ple of  the  United  States  have  lost  a  wise,  judicious,  phil- 
anthropic, and  noble  Chief  Executive,  the  friend  of  human 
freedom,  an  ardent  and  sincere  co-laborer,  the  advocate  of 
human  progress  and  popular  government,  a  true  friend  and 
faithful  patron. 

Resolved,:  That  the  crime  of  his  assassination  is  truly 
damning :  First,  because  he  was  guilty  of  no  crime  that  could 
in  any  sense  justify  such  an  act;  second,  because  it  is  a  blow 
aimed  at  the  stability  of  all  human  government. 

Resolved:  That  we  rejoice  in  the  faith  that  the  Almighty 
Ruler  of  the  universe  can  overrule  the  wicked  deeds  of  men 
and  devils  and  cause  their  wrath  to  praise  him,  and  the  re- 
mainder of  wrath  he  will  restrain. 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  189 

Resolved:  That  we  tender  our  heartfelt  sympathies  and 
kind  condolence  to  the  bereaved  citizens  of  the  United  States, 
the  afflicted  and  mourning  family  of  the  deceased,  and  the 
sorrowing  friends  of  humanity  and  moral  progress  through- 
out the  world.— 1865,  pp.  169,  170. 

(3)  The  Assembly  and  the  European  War. 

That  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  the  one  pure- 
ly American  Church,  is  a  deeply  patriotic  body,  is  truly 
vouched  for  by  these  excerpts  from  the  Assembly  at  Dallas, 
Tex.,  1918: 

"An  hour  was  set  apart,  and  a  patriotic  service  was  held, 
and  stirring  addresses  were  made." — Minutes,  1918,  p.  16. 

"Two  o'clock  this  afternoon  was  appointed  a  special  hour 
for  a  memorial  service  in  honor  of  Cumberland  Presbyte- 
rian boys  who  have  placed  their  lives  upon  the  altar  of  their 
country."  With  appropriate  ceremonies,  a  large  Sei'vice 
Flag  was  dedicated  in  honor  of  the  thousands  of  our  boys 
now  in  army  service. — 1918,  pp.  17,  19. 

(4)  Report  of  the  War- Work  Committee. 

Your  Committee  on  War  Work,  after  duly  considering 
the  matter  referred  to  them,  would  recommend  that  the 
General  Assembly  create  a  special  War-Work  Commission, 
composed  of  five  members.  That  this  commission  is  created 
with  special  reference  to  the  needs  of  religious  activity  and 
gospel  ministration  in  connection  with  the  gi'eat  European 
war;  and  this  commission  shall  continue  until  the  close  of 
the  war.— 1918,  p.  102. 

(This  commission  was  appointed,  formed  an  organization, 
and  at  once  began  operations  as  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian War-Work  Commission  of  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian Church,  T.  A.  Havron,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. — 
A.  C.  B.) 

27.  Enters  Presbyterian  Alliance. 

Council  of  the  Alliance  of  the  Reformed  Churches  holding 
the  Presbyterian  System  met  in  Belfast  June  26,  1884. 
Extract  of  minute  referring  to  application  of  Cumberland 


190  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

Presbyterian  Church  to  be  admitted  into  membership: 

"The  Council,  without  approving  of  the  Church's  revision 
of  the  Westminster  Confession  and  of  the  Shorter  cate- 
chism, admit  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  into  the 
Alliance  and  invite  the  delegates  now  present  to  take  their 
seats." 

See  "Minutes  and  Proceedings,"  pp.  134,  145,  161. 

G.  D.  Mathews,  Clerk  of  Council. 

—1885,  p.  108. 

28.  Deliverances  of  the  General  Assembly  in  Reference  to 
the  Roman  Catholic  Church. 

Resolved:  That  in  the  opinion  of  this  General  Assembly, 
the  papacy,  as  an  organized  body,  is  no  part  of  the  Church 
of  Christ,  but  the  "Man  of  Sin,"  as  named  in  the  Bible. 

Resolved:  That  the  "Man  of  Sin,"  or  "mystery  of  in- 
iquity," is  a  well  organized  political  power  and  opposed  to 
liberty  of  all  kinds,  and  especially  to  that  of  the  soul,  and 
the  right  to  worship  God  according  to  the  dictates  of  con- 
science. That  in  the  opinion  of  this  Assembly  their  institu- 
tions of  learning  of  every  kind  are  dangerous  snares  to 
Protestants  and  the  children  of  the  free;  and  the  strength 
of  their  secret  policy  is  to  cast  down  our  diear  and  lovely  in- 
stitutions, if  not  directly  by  gold,  certainly  by  its  price. 

Resolved:  That  we  do  most  earnestly  recommend  to  our 
people  and  all  Protestant  families,  liberally  and  religiously, 
to  patronize  institutions  of  learning  under  the  control  of 
those  who  know  the  worth  of  pure  religion  and  the  price  of 
religious  liberty.  And,  moreover,  we  warn  all  who  love  God, 
their  families,  their  country,  their  homes,  to  do  all  they  can 
to  Christianize  Catholics  and  to  do  them  good,  but  to  keep 
their  sons  and  their  daughters  out  of  their  institutions  of 
learning,  as  from  the  snares  of  ruin,  and  to  educate  them  in 
the  schools  of  those  who  know  what  it  is  to  breathe  in  the 
pure  spirit  of  religious  liberty.  Adopted. — 1845,  pp.  352- 
355,  MSS. 

Resolved:  1.  That  the  providences  of  the  Great  Head  of 
the  Church  seem,  at  the  present  time  as  never  before,  to  be 
demanding  of  the  Church  a  special  regard,  both  in  their 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  191 

prayers  and  efforts,  for  the  thousands  of  the  deluded  fol- 
lowers of  the  "Man  of  Sin,"  now  in  our  midst. 

2.  That  it  is  the  decided  opinion  of  this  General  Assem- 
bly that  no  incidental  or  indirect  effort  will  ever  accomplish 
the  evangelization  of  this  class. 

3.  That  we,  therefore,  hail  with  increased  delight  the  or- 
ganization of  the  American  and  Foreign  Christian  Union, 
so  catholic  in  its  character,  so  noble  and  Christlike  in  its 
designs,  so  well  adapted  in  the  modes  of  its  operations  to 
reach  this  class,  and  whose  success  has  been  so  significant 
and  blessed. 

4.  That  the  remarkable  success  of  the  American  and  For- 
eign Christian  Union  in  gaining  access  already  to  thousands 
of  our  Romish  citizens  should  rebuke  the  unbelief  of  the 
Church  in  regard  to  the  conversion  of  Roman  Catholics  and 
inspire  it  with  new  faith  and  hope  in  the  promises  of  God 
and  with  stronger  desires  to  bear  a  part  in  the  great  work 
of  saving  the  lost.  Adopted. — 1854,  p.  56.  (See  1855,  pp. 
36,  37;  1870,  p.  31;  1874,  p.  31.) 

The  memorial  of  Porter  Presbytery,  asking  that  our 
Church  declare  itself  opposed  to  the  extension  of  govern- 
ment aid  to  sectarian  schools,  was  before  your  Committee; 
and,  after  due  consideration  thereof,  we  recommend  that  the 
following  be  adopted  as  a  declaration  of  the  policy  of  our 
Church — viz. :  That  one  of  the  fundamental  principles  upon 
which  the  government  of  the  United  States,  and  of  the 
several  States,  was  founded,  was  that  Church  and  State 
should  be  separate  and  remain  so.  Our  Church  has  at  all 
times  believed  in  said  principle.  We  believe  this  principle 
is  violated  whenever  either  national,  state,  or  municipal 
governments  extend  to  any  sectarian  school  financial  aid, 
and  that  suclt  financial  aid  tends  to  bring  about  a  union  of 
Church  and  State.  We,  therefore,  hereby  place  our  Church 
on  record  as  opposed  to  the  government — national,  state,  or 
municipal — extending  any  financial  aidj  to  any  sectarian 
school.    Adopted.— 1895,  p.  21. 


V.  JUDICIARY 


I.  THE  LAW  STATED. 

Rules  of  Discipline,  Sections  80-95.— An  appeal  is  the  removal  of 
a  cause,  already  decided,  from  an  inferior  to  a  superior  court,  the 
effect  of  which  is  to  arrest  sentence  until  the  matter  is  finally  decided. 
It  is  allowable,  after  judgment,  to  either  of  the  parties  to  the  pro- 
ceedings, but  those  who  have  not  submitted  to  a  regular  trial  are  not 
entitled  to  appeal. 

81.  Any  irregularity  in  the  proceedings  of  the  inferior  court,  a  re- 
fusal of  reasonable  indulgence  to  either  party,  declining  to  receive 
important  testimony,  hurrying  to  a  decision  before  the  testimony  is 
fully  taken,  a  manifestation  of  prejudice  in  the  cause,  and  mistake  or 
injustice  in  the  judgment,  are  all  proper  grounds  of  appeal. 

82.  Eveiy  appellant  must  give  notice  of  his  intention  to  appeal,  and 
the  reasons  therefor,  in  writing,  to  the  court  before  its  adjournment, 
or  within  ten  days  thereafter  to  the  Moderator  or  Clerk. 

83.  No  appeal  shall  be  carried  from  an  inferior  to  any  other  court 
than  the  one  immediately  superior. 

84.  In  considering  an  appeal,  the  following  order  shall  be  observed: 

1.  Ascertaining  whether   the   appellant  has   conducted   it   regularly; 

2.  To  read  record  of  the  cause;  3.  To  hear  the  parties,  first  the  ap- 
pellant, then  the  appellee,  the  appellant  then  to  close;  4.  To  call  the 
roll,  that  the  members  may  express  their  opinion  in  the  cause;  and, 
5.  The  vote  shall  be  taken.  The  decision  may  be  either  to  confirm  or 
reverse,  in  whole  or  in  part,  the  judgment  of  the  inferior  court;  or  to 
remit  the  cause  for  the  purpose  of  amending  the  record,  should  it  ap- 
pear to  be  incorrect  or  defective,  or  for  a  new  trial, 

85.  If  an  appellant  fails  to  prosecute  his  appeal,  it  shall  be  regarded 
as  abandoned,  and  the  judgment  appealed  from  shall  be  final;  and 
he  shall  be  considered  as  abandoning  his  appeal,  if  it  be  not  pre- 
sented to  the  appellate  court  during  the  next  stated  meeting  thereof, 
unless  such  failure  be  without  fault  on  his  part. 

86.  If  an  appellant  manifest  a  litigious  or  other  unchristian  spirit 
in  the  prosecution  of  his  appeal,  he  shall  be  censured  according  to 
the  degree  of  his  offense. 

87.  If  the  infliction  of  the  sentence  of  suspension,  excommunication, 
or  deposition,  be  arrested  by  appeal,  the  judgment  appealed  from 
shall,  nevertheless,  be  considered  as  in  force  until  the  appeal  shall  be 
decided. 

88.  If  any  coui-t  shall  neglect  to  send  up  the  record  of  the  cause 
to  the  stated  meeting  of  the  appellate  court  next  after  the  appeal  is 


194  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

taken,  it  shall  be  censured  according  to  the  circumstances  of  the  case, 
and  the  judgment  appealed  from  shall  be  suspended  until  the  record 
be  produced. 

Complaints. 

89.  A  complaint  is  a  repi-esentation  made  to  a  superior  court  against 
an  inferior  court.  Any  member  of  the  Church,  submitting  to  its  au- 
thority, may  complain  against  every  kind  of  decision,  except  where 
an  appeal  has  been  taken.  A  complaint  shall  not  suspend,  while  pend- 
ing the  effect  of  the  decision  of  which  the  complaint  is  made.  Notice 
of  complaint  shall  be  given  in  the  same  time  and  manner  as  notice  of 
appeal. 

90.  The  superior  court  has  discretionary  power  either  to  annul  any 
portion  or  the  whole  decision  complained  of,  or  to  send  it  back  to  the 
inferior  court  with  instructions  for  a  new  hearing. 

91.  The  court  against  which  complaint  is  made  shall  send  up  its 
records  in  the  case  and  be  subject  to  the  same  censure  for  failing  to 
do  so,  as  is  prescribed  in  case  of  appeal. 

Dissents  and  Protests. 

92.  A  dissent  is  a  declaration  by  one  or  more  members  of  a  minority 
of  a  court,  expressing  a  different  opinion  from  that  of  the  majority, 
as  to  a  particular  matter.  A  dissent,  unaccompanied  with  reasons, 
shall  be  entered  on  the  records  of  the  court. 

93.  A  protest  is  a  more  solemn  and  formal  declaration  by  a  minor- 
ity against  the  action  of  the  majority,  and  is  generally  accompanied 
with  the  reasons  upon  which  it  is  founded. 

94.  If  a  protest  or  dissent  be  couched  in  temperate  language,  and 
be  respectful  to  the  court,  it  shall  be  recorded;  and  the  court  may  put 
an  answer  thereto  on  its  records. 

95.  The  higher  court  shall  take  cognizance  of  and  render  its  judg- 
ment on  all  protests  appearing  upon  the  records  passing  under  its 
review. 

Rules  of  Discipline,  Section  67. — Every  decision  made  by  any 
Church  court,  except  the  highest,  is  subject  to  the  review  of  a  supe- 
rior court  and  may  be  brought  before  it  by  general  review  and  con- 
trol, reference,  appeal,  or  complaint. 

(Note. — Often  there  has  been  a  lack  of  discrimination  between  an 
appeal  and  a  complaint.  Frequently  an  "appeal,"  so-called,  has  been 
taken  when,  legally,  only  a  "complaint"  could  be  made;  and  occasional- 
ly a  "complaint,"  so-called,  has  been  prosecuted,  when  legally  it 
amounted  to  an  "appeal."  The  General  Assembly  has  not  been  techni- 
cal in  its  application  of  the  law  to  such  cases.  The  spirit  rather  than 
the  letter  of  the  law  has  been  followed.) 

1.  No  Change  of  Venue  Permitted. 

The  first  question  propounded  by  the  Tehuacana  Presbytery  is:  "Is 
there  any  provision  in  our  Form  of  Government  for  a  change  of  venue 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  195 

when  the  accused  haa  reason  to  believe  that,  owing  to  prejudice  or 
some  other  cause,  he  cannot  obtain  justice  from  the  judicature  by 
which  he  is  to  be  judged?" 

The  second  question  is:  "If  there  is  no  such  provision  either  in  our 
Form  of  Government,  or  by  a  deliverance  of  a  former  Assembly;  and, 
if  the  similarity  between  the  Form  of  Government  of  our  Church  and 
the  universally  adopted  civil  code  does  not  imply  such  a  provision,  we 
most  respectfully  memorialize  your  reverend  body  to  make  a  deliv- 
erance providing  for  such  change  of  venue." 

We  are  of  the  opinion  that  an  expression  by  your  reverend  body  of 
the  right  or  necessity  of  such  change  of  venue  in  the  trial  of  a  min- 
ister of  the  gospel,  would  give  to  the  world  a  hurtful  want  of  con- 
fidence in  the  character  and  integrity  of  the  ministers  and  elders  of 
our  denomination,  and  that  such  expression  would  open  a  wide  door 
for  designing  and  bad  men  to  elude  the  just  censures  of  the  Church, 
and  to  disregard  the  wholesome  restraints  of  discipline. 

The  sanction  of  such  interpretations  of  law  by  your  reverend  body 
would,  in  our  opinion,  be  a  departure  from  the  usages  of  Presbyterian- 
ism  in  all  the  past  history  of  the  Church. 

We,  therefore,  recommend  that  you  answer  the  interrogatory  of  the 
memorialists  in  the  negative. — 1875,  pp.  30-33. 

2.  Appeals  Must  Be  Reguarly  Brought. 

An  appeal  of  T.  J.  Simpson,  in  behalf  of  himself  and  the  Allegheny 
Presbytery,  complaining  of  aggrievance  in  a  decision  of  Pennsylvania 
Sjmod,  whereby  a  judicial  decision  of  the  First  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian Church  in  Allegheny  City,  confirmed  by  the  Allegheny  Presby- 
tery, was  reversed. 

Your  committee  think  that  the  aggrievance  complained  of  is  wholly 
of  a  constitutional  nature,  and  we  are  of  the  opinion  that  the  Synod 
had  in  fact  no  legitimate  jurisdiction  of  the  case,  from  the  considera- 
tion that  the  action  of  the  Presbytery  was  not  brought  regularly  be- 
fore them.     Adopted.— 1852,  p.  30. 

Your  committee  find  that  questions  coming  from  a  lower  to  a 
higher  court  must  come  "by  general  review  and  control,  reference,  ap- 
peal, or  complaint."  They  are  of  the  opinion  that  the  paper  in  this 
case  comes  under  neither;  and  is,  therefore,  not  properly  before  this 
body.    Adopted.— 1884,  p.  19. 

Your  committee  is  unanimously  of  the  opinion  that  the  General  As- 
sembly cannot  take  cognizance  of  the  matters  presented  upon  the  ap- 
plication of  private  persons;  but  that  such  questions  must  come  from 
some  inferior  judicatory,  either  by  appeal  or  reference.  Adopted.— 
1874,  p.  17. 

The  Judiciary  Committee  have  before  them,  and  have  considered, 
certain  interrogatives  propounded  by  the  Rev,  J.  M.  Ragan,  of  Chil- 
licothe  Presbytery,  to  that  body,  and  by  the  Presbytery  referred  to 


196  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

this  General  Assembly;  and  a  deliverance  thereon  is  asked.  It  does 
not  appear  from  any  paper  before  this  committee  or  otherwise  that 
any  case  involving  the  questions  proposed  has  arisen,  but  that  the 
questions  are  asked  with  reference  to  a  future  possible  state  of  things. 

The  committee  do  not  think  it  would  be  the  duty  of  this  body  to 
express  itself  in  advance  upon  matters  on  which  it  may  be  required 
to  sit  as  a  court  hereafter  or  to  give  its  opinion  upon  questions  which 
may  never  arise.  "Sufficient  unto  the  day  is  the  evil  thereof."  We 
therefore  recommend  that  the  General  Assembly  respectfully  decline 
to  respond  to  the  said  interrogatives.    Adopted. — 1890,  p,  16. 

In  the  matter  of  Rev.  C.  H.  Lincoln  against  Pennsylvania  Synod  the 
Judiciary  Committee  reports  as  follows: 

Our  Book  requires  that  in  cases  of  appeal  notice  t;hall  be  given  in 
writing  to  the  Clerk  or  Moderator,  stating  the  grounds  on  which  the 
appeal  is  based,  and  this  must  be  done  during  the  sitting  of  the  court, 
or  within  ten  days  after  adjournment. 

In  the  case  before  us  notice  was  given  within  the  time  required,  but 
the  reasons  for  the  appeal  were  not  set  forth. 

Our  Book  also  requires  that  in  considering  appeals  it  is  the  duty  of 
the  appellate  court  first  to  determine  whether  the  case  has  been  prop- 
erly and  lawfully  brought  up. 

In  view  of  the  plain  requirements  of  our  law,  the  committee  report 
that  the  case  is  not  regularly  before  this  tribunal  and  recommend  that 
it  be  dismissed.     Adoped. — 1896,  pp.  3S,34. 

3.  An  Appeal  Stays  Action  until  the  Higher  Court  Passes  upon  It. 

Rules  of  Discipline,  Sections  80,  87. — The  effect  of  an  appeal  is  to 
arrest  sentence  until  the  matter  is  finally  decided. 

87.  If  the  infliction  of  the  sentence  of  suspension,  excommunication, 
or  deposition  be  arrested  by  appeal,  the  judgment  appealed  from  shall, 
nevertheless,  be  considered  as  in  force  until  the  appeal  shall  be  de- 
cided. 

"When  an  appeal  is  taken  and  filed  before  a  Church  court  from  an 
action  or  decision  of  said  court,  does  such  appeal  stay  further  action 
in  the  court  until  the  question  is  decided  by  the  higher  court?" 

The  committee  unanimously  decide  that  it  does  stay  further  action 
until  a  decision  is  made  by  the  superior  court.  This  the  Assembly 
adopted.— 1866,  p.  51. 

4.  Notice  of  and  Reasons  for  an  Appeal  Must  Be  Given. 

IiTthis  case  it  appears  that  the  Synod  (Iowa)  dismissed  an  appeal 
taken  by  Rev.  Cyrus  Haynes  from  a  decision  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Des  Moines,  which  appeal  was  dismissed  on  the  ground  that  the 
appellant  did  not  present  to  the  Presbytery  his  reasons  for  the  appeal. 

We  therefore  recommend  that  you  affirm  the  decision  of  the  Synod 
and  dismiss  the  appeal.    Adopted. — 1862,  p.  62. 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  197 

5.  Right  of  Appeal  Neutral. 

Whereas,  the  appellate  jurisdiction  of  the  higher  over  the  lower 
judicatures,  recognized  in  our  Form  of  Government  and  Discipline,  as 
in  Form  of  Government,  chapter  9,  section  5;  chapter  10,  section  b; 
chapter  11,  section  4;  and  in  Forms  of  Process,  chapter  1,  section  12,  is 
obviously  designed  to  secure  the  greatest  possible  freedom  from  error 
and  impurity  in  the  administration  of  government  and  discipline,  by 
opening  the  way  to  remove  the  final  decision  of  the  case  from  the 
influence  of  any  real  or  supposed  undue  local  bias,  and  obtaining  judg- 
ment formed  on  the  documentary  evidence  alone.  And  this  appellate 
jurisdiction  based  in  the  reason  that  there  may  be  a  greater  liability 
to  erroneous  judgment  in  the  court  appealed  from  than  in  that  ap- 
pealed to,  and  the  liability  to  err  in  deciding  for  the  prosecution  being 
no  greater  than  that  of  deciding  against  it; 

Therefore,  in  view  of  this  fact,  and  established  precedents  in  the 
administration  of  ecclesiastical  law  under  Presbyterian  government, 
and  in  view  of  certain  questions  which  have  arisen,  or  may  hereafter 
arise,  touching  the  right  of  appeal: 

Resolved:  1.  That  it  be  and  is  hereby  declared  the  plain  and  une- 
quivocal sense  of  this  General  Assembly  that  the  reason,  standing  in 
the  foreground  of  the  principle  of  appeal,  is  such  as  makes  the  right 
of  appeal  mutual  in  regard  to  prosecutor  and  defendant,  the  principle 
being  right,  and  it  being  the  very  nature  of  a  just  principle  to  be 
reciprocal  in  its  operation.  And,  moreover,  it  is  such  as  gives  to  the 
minority  of  a  judicature  the  right  to  appeal  from  the  sentence  of  the 
majority  in  cases  in  which  process  is  not  entered  by  an  individual  but 
the  judicature  on  the  ground  of  common  fame. 

2.  That  each  Session,  Presbytery,  and  Synod,  of  which  the  General 
Assembly  is  the  bond  of  union  and  correspondence,  has  constitutional 
rights  equal  to  every  other  Session,  Presbytery,  and  Synod. 

3.  That  in  the  exercise  of  these  rights  by  any  one  Session,  Presby- 
tery, or  Synod  there  is  and  can  be  no  infringement  of  the  constitu- 
tional rights  of  any  other  Session,  Presbytery,  or  Synod. 

4.  That  no  Session,  Presbytery,  or  Synod  can  set  aside  either  directly 
or  indirectly  the  oflficial  acts  of  any  other  Session,  Presbytery,  or 
Synod,  each  being  equal  in  rights. — 1849,  pp.  24-26. 

6.  Power  to  Revive  an  Appeal. 

Whereas,  Rev.  John  A.  Dewoody  comes  before  this  Assembly  pray- 
ing that  his  appeal  from  the  Columbia  Synod  be  revived;  therefore  be 
it 

Resolved:  That  his  request  be  granted  and  that  Columbia  Synod  be 
and  is  hereby  notified  of  the  fact.    Adopted. — 1849,  p.  28, 

7.  New  Witnesses  Introduced. 
Rules  of  Discipline,  Section  15. — When  charges  are  brought  before 
a  Church  court  nothing  shall  be  done  at  that  meeting,  unless  by  con- 


198  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

sent  of  the  parties,  except  to  appoint  a  prosecutor  and  order  the 
charges  reduced  to  writing,  if  not  already  done;  a  copy  of  which,  with 
the  witnesses  then  known  to  support  them,  shall  be  served  on  the 
accused  and  to  cite  all  parties  and  their  witnesses  to  appear  and  be 
heard  at  another  meeting,  which  shall  not  be  sooner  than  ten  days 
after  citation. 

Can  the  judicatory  admit,  on  the  day  of  trial,  any  new  witnesses  to 
support  the  charges  ? 

Answer. — Either  party  may  introduce  witnesses  whose  names  may 
not  have  been  before  furnished,  the  judicatoi-y  taking  care  that  no  in- 
justice result  thei-efrom;  but  by  postponement  of  the  trial,  or  other- 
wise, allow  either  party  full  opportunity  to  introduce  rebutting  testi- 
mony.    Adopted.— 1871,  p.  29. 

8.  What  if  the  Accused  Refused  to  Appear? 

Rules  of  Discipline,  Sections  33,  38. — If  an  accused  person  fails  to 
appear  before  the  Church  Session,  after  being  twice  duly  cited,  or 
shall  refuse  to  plead,  the  fact  and  the  nature  of  the  offense  charged 
shall  be  entered  upon  the  records  and  the  accused  suspended  for  his 
contumacy.  This  sentence  may  be  made  public  and  shall  not  be  re- 
moved until  he  has  repented  of  his  contumacy  and  given  satisfaction 
in  relation  to  the  charges  against  him.  If  the  charge  be  one  of  gross 
crime  or  heresy,  the  court  may  proceed  to  inflict  the  highest  censure 
if  the  accused  persist  in  his  contumacy. 

38.  If  an  accused  minister,  having  been  twice  duly  cited,  refuse  to 
appear  before  the  Presbytery,  he  shall  be  suspended;  and  if,  after 
another  citation,  he  still  refuse  to  attend,  he  shall  be  deposed  as 
contumacious  and  suspended  or  excommunicated  from  the  communion 
of  the  Church.  Record  must  be  made  of  the  judgment,  of  the  charges, 
and  of  the  sentence,  and  the  same  shall  be  made  public. 

If  the  accused  fails  or  refuses  to  attend,  can  the  judicatory  hear  and 
decide  the  case  in  his  absence,  after  due  citation? 

Answer. — They  can.    Adopted. — 1871,  p.  29. 

9.  Accused  Called  upon  to  Say  Whether  He  Is  Guilty. 

Rules  of  Discipline,  Section  15. — At  this  second  meeting  of  the  court, 
the  charges  shall  be  read  to  the  accused,  if  present,  and  he  shall  be 
called  upon  to  say  whether  he  is  guilty  or  not.  If  he  confesses,  the 
court  may  deal  with  him  according  to  its  discretion;  if  he  pleads  and 
takes  issue,  the  trial  shall  proceed.  Accused  parties  may  plead  in 
writing  when  they  cannot  be  present,  and  parties  necessarily  absent 
should  have  counsel  assigned  to  them. 

II.  THE  LAW  APPLIED. 

(Note. — The  General  Assembly,  being  the  highest  tribunal  of  the 
Church,  and  the  court  of  last  resort,  stands  to  review,  commend,  ap- 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  199 

prove,  rebuke,  or  redress  all  matters  of  complaint  or  injustice  com- 
ing up  orderly  from  the  lower  courts.  This  court  of  last  appeal  is 
considered  by  the  Constitution  and  Rules  of  Discipline  as  being  set 
equally  for  the  defense  of  the  corporation  and  the  individual,  and  has 
religiously  sought  to  "show  justice  to  each  and  partiality  to  none." 
The  Assembly  has  frequently  shown  in  the  deliverances  of  the  past 
that  wisdom  which  comes  from  a  multitude  in  counsel,  as  well  as  that 
tenacity  for  justice  to  the  individual  which  goes  to  the  stake  rather 
than  yield  a  principle.  The  many  must  not  oppress  the  few  nor  take 
undue  advantage  of  the  rights  of  majority;  neither  must  the  few  and 
weak,  out  of  pure  sentiment,  be  allowed  to  continue  to  disturb  the 
many.  Out  of  the  many  judicial  deliverances  sent  down  by  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  I  have  selected  the  following  as  clearly  interpreting 
the  law  of  the  Church  in  the  various  cases: 

1.  The  memorial  of  a  minister  who  has  been  deposed.  2.  A  heresy 
case  makes  appeal.  3.  A  minister's  appeal  sustained  and  action  of 
Synod  reversed.  4.  Memorial  to  re-open  question  of  woman  ordina- 
tion refused. — A.  C.  B.) 

1.  The  Memorial  of  Rev.  Harrison  Whitson. 

Your  committee  have  attended  to  the  business  assigned  them  and 
ask  leave  to  report  that  they  have  had  before  them  a  memorial  from 
Harrison  Whitson,  of  the  Colorado  Presbytery,  in  which  he  complains 
that  he  had  been  tried  on  certain  charges  and  deposed  from  the  gospel 
ministry  contrary  to  the  laws  and  regulations  of  our  Church.  By 
reference  to  the  Assembly's  minutes  for  1851,  it  will  be  seen  that  the 
doings  of  the  Colorado  Presbytery  were  thought  to  be  defective  in 
this  case  by  the  Brazos  Synod,  and  it  remanded  the  business  back  to 
the  Presbytery  for  a  reconsideration.  The  Presbytery  appealed  from 
the  action  of  the  Synod  to  the  General  Assembly,  where  the  action  of 
the  latter  was  reversed  and  that  of  the  former  approved  and  con- 
firmed. The  appellant  claims  that  he  had  no  knowledge  that  the 
Presbytery  had  referred  the  matter  in  dispute  between  him  and  the 
Ssmod  to  the  Assembly,  until  his  condemnation  was  sealed.  He  more- 
over complains  that  he  was  cited  to  appear  before  the  Presbytery  for 
trial  and  it  failed  to  meet  at  the  time;  but,  at  a  meeting  several 
months  after,  it  met  and  deposed  him  without  either  his  presence  or 
knowledge,  and  that  by  no  effort  has  he  been  able  to  obtain  a  copy  of 
the  proccee  dings  in  the  case.  Your  committee  are  persuaded  that 
the  proceedings  of  the  Colorado  Presbytery  in  this  case  were  de- 
fective, from  the  fact  that  the  Synod  disapproved  thereof  and  or- 
dered a  new  trial  for  reasons  which  to  them  appeared  good.  This, 
taken  in  connection  with  what  the  memorialist  sets  forth,  makes  it 
the  more  manifest  that  the  Presbjrtery  erred  in  this  affair.  Adopted. 
—1853,  pp.  50,  51. 


200  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

2.  The  Appeal  of  Mrs.  Louisa  A.  Ward. 

The  Judiciary  Committee,  to  which  was  referred  the  case  of  Mrs. 
Louisa  A.  Ward,  report  the  following: 

Mrs.  Ward  was  charged  with  heresy  before  the  Session  of  the  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  Church  of  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  and  was  found 
guilty  and  was  excommunicated.  She  appealed  to  the  Presbytery,  it 
being  the  Lexington  Presbytery  of  said  Church,  which  body  affirmed 
the  judgment  of  the  Session. 

From  the  Presbytery  she  appealed  to  the  Missouri  Synod,  and  there 
the  judgment  of  the  Presbytery  was  affirmed. 

She  now  appeals  to  this  General  Assembly  from  the  action  of  the 
Synod. 

It  appears  that  the  specification  of  heresy  in  the  charge  consists  in 
the  fact  that  the  appellant  stated  to  divers  persons  and  taught  that 
one  George  J.  Schweinfurth,  a  man  living  in  Rockford,  111.,  is  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

The  record  shows  that  the  appellant  admitted  the  ti-uth  of  the 
charge  in  the  presence  of  the  Session  and  persists  in  asserting  the 
statement. 

The  committee  have  carefully  examined  the  record  and  find  that  the 
law  of  the  Church  has  been  substantially  complied  with  by  all  of  the 
Church  courts  which  have  had  the  case  before  them,  and  therefore 
recommend  that  the  judgment  of  the  Missouri  Synod  be  in  all  things 
affirmed.    Adopted.~1890,  p.  16. 

3.  The  Appeal  of  Rev.  D.  T.  Waynick. 

The  Assembly  adopted  the  following  report: 

The  Committee  on  Judiciary,  to  whom  was  referred  the  appeal  of 
Rev.  D.  T.  Waynick  against  the  action  of  the  Synod  of  Tennessee,  have 
considered  the  same  and  respectfully  report: 

We  find  the  following  to  be  the  facts  giving  rise  to  this  controversy: 

At  the  spring  meeting,  March,  1889,  of  Memphis  Presbytery,  a  com- 
munication was  presented  from  a  member  of  the  First  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church,  Memphis,  addressed  to  the  Presbytery,  the  read- 
ing of  which  was  commenced,  without  objection;  and  when  the  first 
page  thereof  had  been  read  an  objection  was  made  to  the  paper,  upon 
the  ground  that  it  was  not  in  order,  and  thei-eupon  the  Moderator  de- 
clared the  paper  out  of  order,  the  reading  ceased,  and  no  further 
notice  of  the  paper  was  taken. 

Against  this  action  of  the  Moderator,  Brother  Waynick  entered  a 
protest. 

At  the  next  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  September,  1889,  an  answer 
to  said  protest  was  entered  upon  the  minutes  of  said  Presbytery. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Synod  of  Tennessee,  October,  1889,  the  action 
of  the  Moderator  and  of  the  Presbytery,  in  making  answer  to  the 
protest,  was  sustained  by  the  Synod,  and  from  this  action  Brother 
Waynick  presented  an  appeal  to  the  General  Assembly. 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  201 

The  first  question  piBsented  for  consideration  is:  Was  the  action 
of  the  Moderator  correct  in  ruling  that  said  communication  was  out 
of  order? 

The  reasons  for  this  ruling,  as  stated  in  the  answer  to  the  protest, 
are: 

1.  Said  paper  was  not  a  communication  addressed  to  the  Jilemphis 
Presbytery,  but  in  an  envelope  addressed  personally  to  a  member  of 
the  same. 

Although  inclosed  in  an  envelope  addressed  to  a  member,  the  paper, 
as  already  stated,  was  addressed  to  the  Presbytery  in  proper  foi-m. 

2.  It  purported  to  be  a  memorial  from  a  member  of  the  First  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  Church,  Memphis,  but  was  sent  without  the 
knowledge  of  its  Church  session  or  any  notice  having  been  given  them 
of  such  intended  action. 

We  are  not  aware  of  any  rule  requiring  such  notice  and  are  of  the 
opinion  that  none  was  necessary. 

3.  Said  paper  was  not  regularly  brought  before  the  Presbytery,  as 
stated  in  the  protest,  but  was  placed  upon  the  clerk's  table  during  his 
absence  and  without  his  knowledge  as  to  how  it  came  there. 

We  do  not  think  this  point  is  well  taken.  The  Clerk  made  no  ob- 
jection, but  recognized  the  paper  as  properly  in  his  possession,  and 
the  reading  of  the  same  was  commenced  by  a  member  at  his  request. 

4.  No  appeal  was  taken  at  the  time  from  the  ruling  of  the  Moderator. 
We  are  of  the  opinion  that  the  question  could  be  properly  presented 

to  the  Synod  by  protest,  and  that  while  an  appeal  might  have  been 
taken,  it  was  not  necessary  to  do  so  in  order  to  give  the  Synod  juris- 
diction, as  this  could  be  done  by  entering  a  protest,  as  was  done  in 
this  case. 

The  paper  in  question,  so  far  as  the  same  was  read,  showed  it  to 
be  a  communication,  addj-essed  to  the  Presbytery,  representing  that 
"the  undersigned"  was  a  member  of  the  First  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian Church,  Memphis;  that  he  came  before  the  Presbytery  seek- 
ing justice;  that  he  had  been  served  with  a  copy  of  a  preamble  and 
resolution  adopted  by  the  Church  Session  of  said  Church,  in  which 
he  was  accused  of  grave  delinquencies  as  a  member  and  officer  of 
said  Church. 

When  so  much  of  said  paper  had  been  read,  some  member  objected 
to  it  as  out  of  order,  and  the  Moderator  so  naled.  The  remaining 
portion  of  the  paper  was  not  read,  so  that  the  Presbytery  might  see 
what  action  had  been  taken  by  the  Church  Session,  if  any,  nor  what 
the  author  desired  the  Presbytery  to  do. 

The  paper  is  respectful  throughout;  and,  if  the  reading  had  pro- 
ceeded, it  would  have  appeared  that  it  asked  the  Presbytery,  in  cour- 
teous terms,  to  order  the  Church  Session  to  take  action  upon  the 
charges,  the  truth  of  which  he  denied,  seven  months  having  elapsed, 


202  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

and  nothing  having  been  done  by  the  Church  Session  to  bring  the 
matter  to  an  issue. 

We  are  of  opinion  that  the  communication  presented  proper  mat- 
ter for  the  consideration  of  the  Presbytery,  that  it  was  neither  ir- 
relevant nor  otherwise  out  of  order,  and  that,  therefore,  the  ruling  of 
the  Moderator  complained  of  was  erroneous. 

It  is  proper  to  say  that  it  appears,  from  the  action  of  the  Synod, 
that  all  the  facts  in  the  case  were  not  before  that  body,  and,  in  re- 
porting, as  we  do,  that  the  Synod  was  in  error  in  sustaining  said 
ruling,  this  explanation  is  made  in  justice  to  that  court. 

The  next  question  presented  for  consideration  is:  Was  it  proper  for 
the  Presbytery,  at  a  subsequent  meeting  and  in  the  absence  of  the 
protestant,  to  enter  upon  its  minutes  an  answer  to  the  protest  ? 

The  General  Assembly  has  decided  (See  Minutes,  1886,  p.  43)  that  a 
member  of  a  Church  Session  could  not,  at  a  subsequent  meeting,  pro- 
test against  the  action  of  the  Church  Session  had  at  a  meeting  at 
which  he  was  not  present.  We  should  hold  otherwise  but  for  that 
decision.  Yielding  to  its  authority  and  being  of  opinion  that  the  right 
to  put  an  answer  on  the  record  to  a  protest  stands  upon  the  same 
ground  as  the  right  to  protest,  that  the  reason  for  the  decision  just 
stated  applies  with  much  greater  force  to  the  higher  courts  than  to 
the  Church  Session,  we  report  that  it  was  an  error  in  the  Synod  to 
sustain  the  Presbytery  on  this  point. 

Upon  the  whole  case,  we  are  of  opinion  that  the  appeal  should  be 
sustained  and  the  action  of  the  Synod  reversed. — 1890,  pp.  18,  19. 

4.  The  Case  of  Mrs.  L.  M.  Woosley. 

(The  origin  and  course  of  this  case  is  clearly  set  forth  in  the 
records  of  the  various  judicatures  through  which  it  passed  to  its  final 
adjudication  and  is  briefly  summed  up  as  follows: 

"In  1889  Nolin  Presbytery  ordained  Mrs.  L.  M.  Woosley  to  the  full 
work  of  the  gospel  ministry. 

"In  1890  Kentucky  Synod  adjudged  that  there  was  no  authority, 
either  in  the  Confession  of  Faith  or  the  Holy  Scriptures,  for  the  or- 
dination of  a  woman  to  the  work  of  the  gospel  ministry,  and  further 
declared  that  the  Nolin  Presbytery  had  no  authority  to  ordain  Mrs. 
L.  M.  Woosley  to  the  gospel  ministry. 

"In  1893  Nolin  Presbytery  elected  Mrs.  L.  M.  Woosley  an  alternate 
commissioner  to  this  (1894)  Assembly,  on  the  part  of  the  ministry. 

"In  1893  Kentucky  Synod,  in  its  meeting  in  October,  after  the  meet- 
ing in  August,  in  which  Nolin  Presbytery  had  elected  Mrs.  Woosley 
a  commissioner,  reaffirmed  its  former  deliverances  and  declared  her 
election  null  and  void,  and  directed  Nolin  Presbyteiy  to  retire  her 
name  from  its  list  of  ministers. 

"In  1894  Mrs.  Woosley  appeared  before  the  Assembly  with  an  ap- 
peal from  the  decision  of  Kentucky  Synod,  with  the  following  result: 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  203 

'That  the  appeal  of  Mrs.  Woosley  be  dismissed;  that  the  action  of 
Kentucky  Synod  be  ratified  and  affirmed;  that  the  memorial  of  Nolin 
Presbytery  be  not  granted;  and  that  Mrs.  L.  M.  Woosley  be  not 
seated  as  a  commissioner  of  this  Genei'al  Assembly,  for  the  reason 
that  she  is  not  a  regularly  ordained  minister  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church.'  "—1894,  pp.  22.  23.) 

Memorial  to  Reopen  the  Case. 

The  Nolin  Presbytery  memorialized  the  General  Assembly  (of 
1895)  to  reopen  the  case.  After  due  consideration  the  Assembly  an- 
swered as  below: 

This  question  came  before  the  General  Assembly  of  1894,  upon  the 
memorial  of  Nolin  Presbytery  and  the  appeal  of  Mrs.  Woosley,  and 
was  adjudicated  by  that  body  upon  the   record   submitted  and  was 
there  impleaded  by  representatives  of  the  parties,  thus  waiving  all 
right  to  question  the  General  Assembly's  want  of  jurisdiction.     That 
General  Assembly  took  jurisdiction  of  the  case,  upon  the  application 
of  these  parties  as  above  stated,  and,  after  full  hearing,  gave  it  final 
issue  by  refusing  Mrs.  Woosley  a  seat  in  the  General  Assembly  as 
commissioner  from  Nolin  Presbytery,  and  by  affirming  the  order  of 
Kentucky  Synod  upon  Nolin  Presbytery  to  retire  her  name  from  its 
roll  of  ministers  on  the  ground  of  the  invalidity  of  Mrs.  Woosley's 
ordination  as   a   minister   in   the   Cumberland   Presbyterian    Church. 
Your  committeemen  submit  that  a  fundamental  condition  of  the  seek- 
ing of  any  kind  of  relief  in  the  courts  of  our  Church  is  first  sub- 
mitting to  the  authority  of  the  Church  as  expressed  in  our  written 
law  and  the  injunctions  of  competent  judicatories.     "Those  who  have 
not  submitted  to  a  regular  trial  are  not  entitled  to  appeal." — Dis- 
cipline, article  80.     "Any  member  of  the  Church,  submitting  to  its 
authority,  may  complain  against  every  kind  of  decision  except  where 
an  appeal  has  been  taken." — Discipline,  article  89.    The  Constitution, 
article  4,  describes  Church  members  as  those  "submitting  to  a  cer- 
tain form  of  government."     In  article  31  it  empowers  the  Presby- 
tery to  "see  that  the  injunctions  of  the  higher  courts  are  obeyed"; 
and  in  article  37  it  directs  the  Synod  "to  take  effectual  care  that  the 
Presbyteries  observe  the   government  of  the  Church  and  that  they 
obey  the  injunctions  of  the  higher  courts."     Under  General  Review 
and  Control,  Discipline,  article  69,  it  is  made  a  matter  of  examina- 
tion "whether  the  injunctions  of  the  superior  courts  have  been  obeyed." 
Article  84,  Rules  of  Discipline,  "In  considering  an  appeal,  the   fol- 
lowing order  shall  be  observed:  1.  Ascertaining  whether  the  appellant 
has  conducted  it  regularly."     The  regularity  of  an  appeal  involves 
submission  to  a  regular  trial.     The  regularity  of  any  other  form  of 
prayer  for  relief  certainly  cannot  involve  less  than  the  same  obedi- 
ence.    On  the  face  of  the  case  before  us,  the  Nolin  Presbytery  has 
utterly  refused  to  obey  the  injunctions  of  the  courts  in  this  very  case 


204  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

in  hand,  and  therefore  the  said  Presbytery  is  rendered  ineligible  to 
ask  legal  redress;  and  therefore  the  memorial  should  be  dismissed. 

We  submit,  secondly,  that  no  provision  is  made  in  our  law  for  one 
General  Assembly  to  reopen  a  case  adjudicated  by  a  former  General 
Assembly.  Rules  of  Discipline,  Article  67:  "Every  decision  made  by 
any  Church  court,  except  the  highest,  is  subject  to  the  review  of  a 
superior  court."  "A  case  being  once  judicially  decided  by  our  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  the  decision  is  final."  .  .  .  All  recognize  that  there 
must  be  an  end  of  litigation.  There  is  no  better  place  to  end  it  than 
where  our  Constitution  prescribes  that  it  shall  end.  Therefore,  for 
this  reason  also,  the  memorial  should  be  dismissed.  And  we  recom- 
mend that  said  memorial  of  Nolin  Presbytery  be,  and  is  hereby  dis- 
missed."—1895,  pp.  36,  37. 


VI.  AGENCIES  OF  THE  GENERAL 
ASSEMBLY 


I.  THE   GENERAL  ASSEMBLY'S   BOARD  OF  TRUSTEES. 

(a)  The  Original  Board. 

Resolved:  That  F.  R.  Cossitt,  F.  C.  Usher,  J.  G.  Biddle,  A.  Har- 
pending,  William  McGowan,  J.  H,  Rackerby,  W.  P.  Fowler,  and  P.  B. 
McGoodwin  be,  and  hereby  are,  appointed  a  committee  to  act  as  a 
Board  of  Trustees,  until  a  board  is  incorporated,  or  the  General  As- 
sembly shall  make  other  arrangements  and  other  disposition  of  the 
funds,  and  to  attend  to  other  duties  assigned  them  by  this  Assembly — 
viz.: 

This  committee  is  instructed  to  apply  to  eminent  legal  counsel  and 
procure  the  draft  of  a  contract  between  the  General  Assembly  of  this 
Church  and  the  Cumberland  College  Association,  securing  the  rights 
of  either  party,  and  binding  each  in  such  a  manner  as  will  effectually 
secure  forever  all  funds  to  be  collected  for  the  benefit  of  the  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  Church  and  according  to  the  objects  of  this 
General  Assembly,  and  present  the  same  to  the  next  General  Assembly 
bly  for  final  action  and  consummation.  Adopted. — 1840,  pp.  561-563, 
MSS. 

Resolved:  That  this  Assembly  does  hereby  accept  and  confirm,  in 
all  its  parts,  an  act  of  the  Legislature  of  Kentucky  at  its  last  session, 
on  the  16th  of  February,  1841,  designated  "An  Act  to  Amend  an  Act 
Entitled  an  Act  to  Amend  the  Charter  of  Cumberland  College,  and 
for  Other  Purposes,"  approved  16th  of  February,  1838,  and  that  said 
Act,  together  with  the  contract  with  Cumberland  College  Association, 
be  recorded  on  the  Minutes  of  this  General  Assembly. — 1841. 

(b)    Legal   Successors  in   1841. 

Resolved:  That  F.  R.  Cossitt,  F.  C.  Usher,  J.  G.  Biddle,  A.  H.  Dudley, 
Thomas  Hunter,  T.  L.  McNairy,  William  McGowan,  and  J.  H.  Racker- 
by, of  Princeton,  Ky.,  with  F.  E.  McLean,  of  Elkton,  Ky.,  A.  Har- 
pending,  of  Christian  County,  Ky.,  Robert  Donnell,  of  Alabama,  Finis 
Ewing,  of  Missouri,  and  John  Morgan,  of  Pennsylvania,  are  hereby 
elected  and  appointed  a  Board  of  Trustees  for  this  General  Assembly 
for  the  purposes  specified  in  the  above  act  of  the  Legislature  of 
Kentucky.     Adopted.— 1841,  pp.  669-671,  MSS. 

Resolved:  That  all  persons,  bodies  corporate,  or  legislative  bodies, 
desirous  of  bequeathing  or  donating  any  money  or  other  valuable 
property   to   the   Cumberland   Presbyterian   Church,  be   requested   to 


206  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

make  it  to  the  General  Assembly's  Board  of  Trustees  for  Cumberland 
College.    Adopted.— 1841,  pp.  675,  676,  MSS. 

As  regards  the  report  of  your  Board  of  Trustees  and  that  of  the 
committee  which  audited  their  books,  which  were  referred  to  us,  we 
recommend: 

1.  That  you  comply  with  the  request  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of 
this  Assembly  by  accepting  their  resignation,  and  that  you  at  once 
elect  an  equal  number  of  trustees  to  succeed  them.  That  the  Board 
of  Ti-ustees  that  have  resigned  be  directed  to  deliver  to  their  suc- 
cessors all  money,  funds,  property,  and  rights  of  every  kind. 

2.  That  you  commend  the  Board  for  their  diligence  and  faithfulness 
in  holding  in  trust  this  fund,  especially  the  Rev.  J.  M.  Gill,  D.D.,  the 
Prcsident  and  Secretary,  who  has  been  a  member  of  said  Board  for 
thirty-five  years,  and  under  whose  influence  this  fund  was  placed  at 
your  disposal.     Adopted. — 1898,  p.  64. 

In  pursuance  of  the  recommendation  contained  in  the  above  report, 
the  Moderator  appointed  the  following  committee  to  nominate  mem- 
bers of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Assembly:  Revs.  J.  S.  Grider,  J. 
E.  Clarke,  and  Elder  W.  L.  Atkinson.— 1898,  p.  64. 

The  special  committee  appointed  to  nominate  members  of  the  As- 
sembly's new  Board  of  Trustees,  submitted  the  following  report, 
whereupon  the  Stated  Clerk  of  the  Assembly  was  ordered  to  cast  the 
ballot  of  the  body  for  the  persons  thus  designated,  which  he  pro- 
ceeded to  do  in  the  presence  of  the  Assembly,  and  then  the  Moderator 
declared  that  the  persons  so  named  had  been  duly  elcted  to  constitute 
the  General  Assembly's  new  Board  of  Trustees,  and  Dr.  J.  O.  Carson, 
of  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  was  authorized  and  directed  to  call  the  new 
Board  together  for  its  proper  organization. 

Your  committee,  appointed  to  nominate  a  Board  of  Trustees  for 
the  General  Assembly,  respectfully  suggest  the  following  named  gen- 
tlemen: 

(c)  Legal  Successors  in  1898. 

Luther  R.  Porter,  Bowling  Green,  Ky.;  Dr.  J.  O.  Carson,  Bowling 
Green,  Ky.;  R.  C.  Posey,  Bowling  Green,  Ky.;  W.  F.  Ennis,  Bowling 
Green,  Ky.;  W.  E.  Settle,  Bowling  Green,  Ky.;  H.  E.  Jenkins,  Bowling 
Green,  Ky.;  E.  G.  Wilcoxson,  Smiths  Grove,  Ky.;  J.  R.  Kirby,  Smiths 
Grove,  Ky.;  J.  W.  Potter,  Rich  Pond,  Ky.;  L.  H.  Skiles,  Rich  Pond, 
Ky.;  H.  P.  McCormick,  Aubum,  Ky.;  Dr.  T.  O.  Helm,  Auburn,  Ky.— 
1898,  pp.  81,  82. 

(d)  Legal  Successors  in  1907. 

The  special  committee  on  Board  of  Trustees  offered  the  following 
report,  which  was  adopted: 

Your  committee  appointed  to  consider  the  matter  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church  beg  leave  to  make  the  following  report: 

The  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Cumberland  Presbji;erian  Church  was 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  207 

regularly  chartered  in  the  year  1854,  on  the  8th  day  of  March,  by  the 
General  Assembly  of  the  Commonwealth  of  the  State  of  Kentucky, 
which  said  Charter  is  here  referred  to  and  made  a  part  of  this  re- 
port. Reference  is  also  made  to  Riddle's  Digest,  pp.  207-210,  where 
a  verbatim  copy  of  that  charter  is  found.  Said  charter  amply  pro- 
vides and  empowers  the  General  Assembly  to  fill  all  vacancies  created 
by  death,  resignation,  or  in  any  other  manner;  but  specifically  pro- 
vides: "That  should  the  time  ever  come  when  any  religious  body 
claiming  to  be  the  successor  of  the  present  General  Assembly  of  said 
Church,  and  should  hold  and  maintain  doctrines  and  sentiments  dif- 
ferent from  those  now  held  by  said  Church,  then  the  powers  and 
privileges  granted  to  the  General  Assembly  of  said  Church  shall 
inure  to  and  be  vested  in  that  body  of  people  professing  and  preach- 
ing the  doctrines  of  the  said  Church  as  now  set  forth  in  her  Confes- 
sion of  Faith."     (See  Charter,  Sec.  13.) 

Now,  whereas  the  trustees  heretofore  elected  under  the  provisions 
of  said  Charter,  and  now  acting,  have  transferred  their  allegiance  to 
another  and  different  denomination,  holding  and  teaching  doctrines 
and  sentiments  different  from  the  Confession  of  Faith  and  other 
doctrines  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  and  are  attempt- 
ing to  transfer  all  the  property  held  by  them  in  trust  for  the  use  and 
benefit  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  to  said  other  and 
different  denomination  which  holds  and  maintains  doctrines  and  senti- 
ments different  from  those  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  said  trustees  have  thereby  violated  said  trust  and  forfeited  their 
right  to  hold  and  remain  as  officers  and  members  of  said  Board  of 
Trustees.  We  therefore  recommend  that  this  General  Assembly,  by 
the  authority  vested  in  it,  declare  the  position  of  all  of  said  members 
of  said  Board  of  Trustees  vacant,  and  that  this  General  Assembly 
proceed  to  fill  said  vacancies. 

We  further  recommend  that  the  following  be  elected  to  compose  the 
Board  of  Trustees  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Cumberland  Pres- 
byterian Church — to-wit:  The  following  names  are  proposed  as  suit- 
able persons  to  constitute  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  General  As- 
sembly of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church:  Dr.  T.  W.  Stone, 
Bowling  Green,  Ky.;  Dr.  J.  F.  Hendrick,  Bowling  Green,  Ky.;  W.  J. 
Denhardt,  Bowling  Green,  Ky.;  Judge  Charles  Drake,  Bowling  Green, 
Ky.;  Joe  D.  Smith,  Bowling  Green,  Ky.;  C.  W.  Stone,  Bowling  Green, 
Ky.;  E.  W.  Beck,  Bowling  Green,  Ky.;  M.  E.  Graham,  Bowling  Green, 
Ky.,  R.  F.  D.,  No.  1;  L.  J.  Miller,  Bowling  Green,  Ky.;  Thomas  W. 
Lewis,  Bowling  Green,  Ky.;  H.  H.  Denhardt,  Bowling  Green,  Ky. 
Adopted.— 1907,  pp.  29,  30. 

The  Charter  of  the  Board,  as  Amended  in  1912. 

(Acts  of  Kentucky,  1853-4,  Vol.  2.) 
An  act  to  amend  the  charter  of  Cumberland  College  and  to  incor- 


208  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

porate  the  Ti-ustees  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Cumberland  Pres- 
byterian Church: 

Whereas,  an  act  to  amend  an  act,  entitled  "an  act  to  amend  the 
charter  of  Cumberland  College,  and  for  other  purposes,"  approved 
February  16,  1841,  was  passed  for  the  benefit  of  "Cumberland  College 
Association"  and  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian Church,  by  which  act  the  entire  control  and  management  of  said 
College  was  given  up  to  said  General  Assembly;  and,  whereas,  by  said 
act  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  said  college  and  General  Assembly 
were  made;  and,  whereas,  said  General  Assembly  has  dissolved  its 
connection  with  said  college;  and,  whereas,  the  Board  of  Trustees  of 
said  college  and  said  General  Assembly  are  two  separate  and  distinct 
bodies,  although  acting  under  the  same  charter;  and,  whereas  much 
difficulty  has  been  experienced  by  said  Board  of  said  General  Assem- 
bly by  reason  of  deficiencies  in  their  said  charter — ki  collecting  dona- 
tions, bequests,  and  other  charities  given  to  said  Church;  therefore. 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Commonwealth  of 
Kentucky:  1.  That  George  D.  McLean,  Will  H.  Miller,  Silas  N.  Davis, 
T.  J.  Duncan,  M.  Dudley,  Thomas  Hunter,  John  P.  Rascoe,  H.  W. 
Champion,  R.  H.  Lander,  Reuben  O'Hara,  William  H.  Baraett,  J.  H. 
IMiller,  and  their  successors,  shall  be,  and  they  are  hereby,  declared 
and  constituted  a  body  corporate  and  politic  by  the  name  and  style 
of  the  Trustees  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian Church,  and  by  that  name  and  style  shall  sue  and  be  sued, 
plead  and  be  impleaded,  and  possess  all  the  powers  and  rights  of  a 
corporate  body,  and  shall  continue  in  office  until  the  annual  session 
of  said  General  Assembly  in  1856,  and  until  their  successors  are  duly 
elected  and  qualified  according  to  law. 

2.  That  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  General  Assembly  of  said 
Church  shall  have  full  power  and  authority  to  receive  for  said  Gen- 
eral Assembly  any  donation,  bequest,  or  other  charities  which  may 
be  or  have  been  hitherto  made  to  said  Church,  or  to  said  Genei-al 
AsFembly,  or  to  said  Board  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  said  Church 
or  Assembly,  for  educational,  religious,  or  charitable  purposes,  and 
to  use  and  dispose  of  same  under  the  direction  of  the  said  Assembly. 

3.  That  all  money,  donations,  bequests,  charities,  and  estates  of 
every  description,  which  may  be  vested  in  said  Board  of  Tnistees,  by 
virtue  of  their  office,  shall  be  held  and  expended  for  the  use  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  and  shall  be  devoted  to  religious, 
charitable,  or  other  educational  purposes,  as  the  General  Assembly 
may  fi-om  time  to  time  direct. 

4.  That  said  General  Assembly  shall  be  empowered  to  elect  her  said 
trustees  at  her  regular  and  stated  meetings,  any  five  of  whom,  as- 
sembled at  a  regular  meeting,  or  by  a  constitutional  call,  shall  con- 
stitute a  quorum  to  do  business. 

5.  That  said  Board  of  Trustees  may  appoint  an  Executive  Com- 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  209 

mittee,  to  consist  of  the  secretary,  treasui'er,  and  three  other  mem- 
bers, to  manage  the  fiscal  concerns  of  said  Board,  any  three  of  whom 
shall  constitute  a  quorum  to  do  business. 

6.  That  said  Board  of  Trustees  shall  meet  annually,  on  the  fourth 
Monday  in  June,  in  each  year,  at  which  time  they  shall  elect  a  Presi- 
dent, Vice  President,  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  who  shall  continue  in 
office  until  their  successors  are  elected  and  qualified;  the  said  Board 
shall  also  meet  semi-annually,  or  oftener,  on  its  own  adjournments, 
or  by  call  of  the  President,  to  transact  business,  to  make  all  neces- 
sary arrangements  for  carrying  into  effect  the  views  of  said  General 
Assembly;  to  manage  and  invest  the  funds  collected,  or  any  other 
property  or  estate;  and  said  Board  shall  report  to  said  Assembly  of 
said  Church  at  her  regular  meetings. 

7.  That  the  President  of  said  Board  shall  preside  in  all  the  meetings 
of  the  same,  call  special  meetings  at  the  request  of  any  two  members; 
and  the  Vice  President,  in  the  absence  of  the  President,  shall  preside 
and  possess  similar  powers;  and,  in  the  absence  of  both  President  and 
Vice  President,  then  said  Board  may  choose  a  President  pro  tem.,  who 
shall  preside  for  the  time  being. 

8.  That  the  Secretary  shall  keep  a  full  and  fair  record  of  all  the 
proceedings  of  said  Board  and  carry  on  all  its  correspondence. 

9.  That  the  Treasurer  shall  take  charge  and  dispose  of  all  funds  ac- 
cording to  the  diiections  of  said  Board,  and  report  when  called  on. 

10.  That  the  Treasurer  shall  give  bond,  with  approved  security,  in 
such  penalty,  to  said  Board,  as  the  same  may  from  time  to  time  direct, 
for  the  faithful  performance  of  his  duties — provided  that  none  of 
his  sureties  shall  be  members  of  said  Board. 

11.  That  all  vacancies  created  by  death,  resignation,  or  in  any  other 
manner,  shall  be  filled  by  the  ensuing  General  Assembly  of  said 
Church,  unless  said  Board  find  it  absolutely  necessary  to  do  it  them- 
selves, in  which  case  the  appointment  to  fill  any  vacancy  shall  con- 
tinue only  until  the  vacancy  shall  be  filled  by  the  said  Assembly. 

12.  That  in  case  of  the  failure  of  any  officer  of  said  Board  to  serve, 
according  to  the  requisitions  of  said  Assembly,  the  Board  shall  have 
power  to  elect  a  suitable  person  to  such  office,  according  to  said 
requisitions,  and  to  remove  delinquents  in  office. 

13.  That  should  the  time  ever  come  when  any  religious  body,  claim- 
ing to  be  the  successors  of  the  present  General  Assembly  of  said 
Church,  and  should  hold  and  maintain  doctrines  and  sentiments  dif- 
ferent from  those  now  held  by  said  Church,  then  the  powers  and 
privileges  granted  to  the  General  Assembly  of  said  Church  shall  inure 
to  and  be  vested  in  that  body  of  people  professing  and  preaching  the 
doctrines  of  the  said  Church,  as  now  set  forth  in  her  Confession  of 
Faith. 

14.  That  said  Board  shall  have  authority,  by  law,  to  collect  all  such 
sums  of  money,  all  legacies,  bequests,  donations,  and  estates,  of  ev- 


210  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

ery  description,  as  have  heretofore  been  or  may  hereafter  be  sub- 
scribed, devised,  bequeathed,  or  donated  by  individuals,  or  for  which 
any  persons  may  have  heretofore  or  may  hereafter  execute  their  notes 
or  bonds,  to  the  said  Church,  Assembly,  or  Board. — Approved  March 
8,  1854.     Adopted  as  amended,  1912,  pp.  44,  45. 

II.  THE  BOARD  OF  PUBLICATION. 

The  General  Assembly,  at  its  first  meeting,  in  1829  (MSS  Minutes, 
p.  18).  appointed  a  committee  to  superintend  the  publication  of  5,000 
copies  of  the  Confession  of  Faith.  In  1830  (MSS.  Minutes,  p.  30),  the 
General  Assembly  made  "The  Religious  and  Literary  Intelligencer"  a 
private  newspaper,  its  organ  by  appointing  its  editor.  The  funds  to 
pay  for  the  publication  of  the  books  that  were  issued  from  time  to 
time  seem  to  have  been  contributed  by  individuals.  In  1845  (MSS. 
Minutes,  pp.  300-306),  the  General  Assembly  adopted  a  kind  of  con- 
stitution for  the  government  of  the  publishing  interests  of  the  Church, 
through  a  "Publishing  Association."  But  nothing  seems  to  have  been 
accomplished  by  this  Association.  Two  years  later,  a  Board  of  Pub- 
lication was  organized. 

1.  The   Board   Located  at   Louisyille,   Ky. 

In  1847  steps  were  taken  to  establish  a  Board  of  Publication  at 
Louisville,  Ky.  Articles  of  incorporation  were  drawn  up,  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Board  were  elected,  and  the  Board  continued  its  work 
from  this  center  until  the  year  1858. 

2.  The  Board  Located  at   Nashville,  Tenn. 

In  1859,  by  order  of  the  Assembly  of  1858,  the  Board  was  moved 
to  Nashville,  Tenn.  It  seems  that,  during  its  work  at  Louisiville,  the 
corporation  had  become  known  to  the  Assembly  as  the  Committee  on 
Publication.  In  1860  the  Assembly  formally  makes  it  a  Board,  which 
secures  a  charter  under  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Ten- 
nessee. 

3.  The  Board  Located  at  Pittsburg,  Pa. 

In  1862  the  Assembly,  which  met  that  year  in  Owensboro,  Ky.,  re- 
ceived no  report  from  the  Board  of  Publication  at  Nashville;  and 
when,  a  year  from  that  time  the  Assembly  met  at  Alton,  111.,  and 
still  no  report  from  the  Board,  the  Assembly  took  steps  to  transfer 
the  property  and  the  office  to  Pittsburg,  Pa.  This  step  was  taken 
under  management  of  a  "Committee  on  Publication,"  but  next  year 
the  "Board  of  Publication"  is  charted  under  the  laws  of  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania,  March  23,  1866. 

4.  The  Board  Located  Again  at  NashTille. 

In  1867  the  General  Assembly  re-establishes  the  Board  of  Publica- 
tion at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  where  it  operated  under  a  former  charter 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  211 

under  the  laws  of  Tennessee,  until  1907,  when,  because  of  the  defec- 
tion of  the  members  of  the  Board,  the  General  Assembly  formally 
deposed  them  from  office  and  elected  and  installed  a  new  member- 
ship. This  Board  still  successfully  carries  on  the  work  of  publica- 
tion from  its  plant  in  Nashville. 

5.  The  Personnel  of  the  Board  Is  Changed. 

We  ask  the  General  Assembly  to  endorse  and  adopt  the  following: 
Whereas,  the  following  named  members  of  the  Board  of  Publication 
of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  heretofore  elected  by  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  as  members  of  said  Board — to-wit:  W.  A.  Provine, 
Hamilton  Parks,  Charles  Manton,  W.  T.  Hardinson,  J.  M.  Johnston, 
J.  H.  Reynolds,  John  H.  DeWitt,  L.  M.  Rice,  and  M.  G.  Wood  have 
denied  allegiance  to  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  and  have 
declared  their  allegiance  to  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United 
States  of  America  and  are  diverting  the  property,  assets,  and  be- 
longings of  said  Board  of  Publication  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church  from  the  use  and  benefit  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church  and  are  now  using  the  same  in  the  interest  of  and  for  the 
benefit  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America, 
whose  doctrine,  polity,  and  sentiments  are  materially  and  vitally  dif- 
ferent from  the  doctrine,  polity,  and  sentiments  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church,  which  is  a  palpable  and  flagrant  violation  of 
the  trust  reposed  in  them. 

1.  Resolved,  therefore,  that  this  General  Assembly  does  hereby  de- 
pose and  remove  the  aforesaid  members  of  said  Board  and  declare 
their  office  as  members  of  said  Board  vacant  and  they  shall  no  longer 
be  members  of  said  Board,  and  they  are  hereby  prohibited  from  ex- 
ercising any  of  the  powers  or  rights  heretofore  possessed  by  them  by 
reason  of  their  election  or  appointment  as  members  of  said  Board  of 
Publication  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. 

2.  Be  it  further  resolved,  that  J.  H.  Zarecor,  F.  A.  Seagle,  A.  N. 
Eshman,  R.  L.  Baskette,  J.  H.  Fussell,  Rev.  A.  C.  Biddle,  Rev.  J.  H. 
Zwingle,  W.  L.  Danley,  S.  A.  Cunningham,  and  W.  E.  Dunaway  be, 
and  they  are  hereby  appointed,  elected  and  constituted  members  of 
the  Board  of  Publication  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  and 
as  such,  shall  have  and  possess  all  the  powers,  rights,  and  privileges 
conferred  by  law  upon  the  Board  of  Publication  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church  by  acts  of  State  of  Tennessee,  1859-1860,  chapter 
167,  sections  34  and  35,  and  the  amendments  thereto,  and  shall  take 
and  possess  all  property  to  which  said  Board  is  entitled. 

Said  Board  of  Publication  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church 
is  hereby  authorized,  empowered,  and  directed  to  depose  and  remove 
from  said  Board  all  such  members  of  said  Board  as  have  denied 
allegiance  to  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  and  who  are  en- 
deavoring to  divert  and  devote  the  use  of  the  property  entrusted  to 


212  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

said  Board  from  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  and  are  en- 
deavoring to  transfer  said  property  to  the  use  and  benefit  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  of  Amei-ica.  And  to  this 
end  the  said  Board  of  Publication  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church  is  hereby  authorized,  empowered,  and  directed  to  bring  and 
defend  all  suits  to  acquire  and  possess  all  property,  assets,  and  be- 
longings of  said  Board  as  in  the  judgment  of  said  Board  may  be 
necessary. 

And  this  Board  is  fully  authorized  and  empowered  to  do  all  other 
things  necessary  to  the  end  that  all  property,  assets,  and  belongings 
may  be  restored  to  the  use  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  to 
which  the  same  rightfully  belongs. 

Respectfululy  submitted  and  signed  by  your  committee.  Adopted, 
1907,  pp.  78,  79. 

6.   Charter  of  the   New   Board. 

In  1915,  under  orders  of  a  former  Assembly,  a  charter  was  re- 
ceived as  follows: 

Dear  Fathers  and  Brethren:  In  the  year  that  has  now  passed  we, 
your  Board,  have  endeavored  to  carry  out  the  instructions  of  your 
honorable  body,  and  we  feel  that  we  have  done  the  best  in  our  power. 

Charter  of  Board 

We  have,  following  the  orders  of  the  Assembly  in  reference  to  ob- 
taining a  charter  for  our  Board,  incorporated  the  same. 

When  we  undertook  to  incorporate,  it  was  found  that  it  was  neces- 
sary to  amend  the  incorporation  laws  of  Tennessee  before  a  charter 
could  be  procured  to  operate  such  a  plant  as  we  desired  and  place  the 
corporation  under  the  management  of  the  Church.  The  Legislature 
did  not  meet  until  January,  1915,  and  we  then  procured  the  passage 
of  such  act  as  we  deemed  would  meet  the  requirements.  After  the 
act  was  passed,  at  the  1915  session  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
State  of  Tennessee,  we,  at  the  next  meeting  of  the  Board,  procured 
a  charter,  which  charter  is  as  follows: 

"State  of  Tennessee,  Charter  of  Incorporation. 

"Be  it  known  that  Rev.  A.  C.  Biddle,  J.  H.  Zarecor,  Rev.  A.  N. 
Eshman,  W.  B.  Young,  Frank  Slemons,  and  their  successors  chosen 
under  the  usages  and  regulations  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church,  by  which  they  are  appointed  and  holding  office  at  the  pleasure 
of  said  Church,  are  hereby  created  a  body  politic  and  corporate  by 
the  name  and  style  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Board  of  Publica- 
tion, under  Act  of  1915,  chapter  31,  which  provides  as  follows: 

"Section  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of 
Tennessee:  That  Chapter  142  of  the  Acts  of  1875,  entitled  'An  Act  to 
provide  for  the  organization  of  Corporations,'  passed  March  19,  1875, 
be  and  the  same  is  hereby  amended  so  as  to  provide  for  the  organiza- 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  213 

tion  of  corporations  for  the  carrying  on  the  business  of  any  board, 
committee,  or  other  agency  appointed  and  controlled  by  any  religious 
denomination,  organization,  or  association. 

"The  particular  purposes  for  which  this  charter  is  sought  are:  To 
provide  a  publishing  plant  for  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church 
and  to  purchase  or  rent  all  necessary  printing  presses,  type,  and  ma- 
terial for  the  purpose  of  carrying  on  the  work  of  the  corporation  and 
to  disseminate  religious  and  denominational  literature,  and  to  do  all 
other  things  ordered  and  approved  by  the  proper  authorities  of  said 
Church. 

"And  to  these  ends  said  corporation  may  purchase,  own,  or  lease 
land  for  corporate  purposes;  borrow  money  when  necessary  for  the 
carrying  on  of  the  business  of  the  corporation;  sell  and  make  title  to 
any  real  estate  or  other  property  owned  by  the  corporation,  employ 
all  necessary  agents  for  the  transaction  of  the  business  of  the  corpora- 
tion; to  solicit,  collect,  and  receive  subscriptions  in  money  and  other- 
wise, legacies  or  devises  to  be  used  in  aid  of  fonvarding  any  and  all 
of  the  purposes  of  the  corporation;  purchase  or  rent  all  necessary 
printing  presses,  type,  and  material  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  on  the 
work  of  the  corporation. 

"But  in  all  transactions  of  the  said  corporation  it  is  to  be  governed 
by  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the  said  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church,  so  far  as  the  same  are  not  inconsistent  with  the  Constitution 
of  the  State  and  the  laws  of  the  land. 

"The  general  powers  of  said  coi-poration  shall  be  to  sue  and  be 
sued  by  the  corporate  name;  to  have  and  to  use  a  common  seal,  which 
it  may  alter  at  pleasure;  if  it  has  no  common  seal,  then  the  signature 
of  any  duly  authorized  officer  shall  be  legal  and  binding.  To  pui'chase 
and  hold,  or  receive  by  gift,  devise  or  bequest,  in  addition  to  the 
personal  property  owned  by  the  corporation,  real  estate  necessary 
for  the  transaction  of  the  corporate  business,  and  also  to  purchase 
and  accept  any  real  estate  in  payment  or  part  payment  of  any  debt 
due  to  the  coi-poration  and  to  sell  the  same;  to  establish  by-laws  and 
make  all  rules  and  regulations  not  inconsistent  with  the  laws  and 
Constitution  of  the  State,  and  of  the  United  States  of  America,  and 
not  contrary  to  the  constitution  and  rules  and  regulations  of  the 
said  Cumberland  Presbyerian  Church  deemed  expedient  for  the  man- 
agement of  the  corporate  affairs,  and  to  appoint  such  subordinate 
officers,  in  addition  to  president  and  secretary,  not  chosen  by  the  gov- 
erning body  of  said  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  as  the  business 
of  the  corporation  may  require,  and  as  are  not  forbidden  by  the  i-ules 
and  regulations  of  said  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church;  to  designate 
the  officers  and  fix  the  compensation  of  the  officers. 

"That  the  general  welfare  of  society,  not  individual  profit,  is  the 
object  for  which  this  charter  is  granted,  and  hence  the  members  are 


214  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

not  stockholders  in  the  legal  sense  of  the  term,  and  no  dividends  or 
profits  shall  be  divided  among  the  members. 

"We,  the  undersigned,  apply  to  the  State  of  Tennessee,  by  virtue  of 
the  laws  of  the  land,  for  a  charter  of  incorporation  for  the  purposes 
and  with  the  powers,  etc.,  declared  in  the  foregoing  instrument. 
"This  11th  day  of  May,  1915.  (Signed  and  Sealed), 

J.  H.  Zarecor, 
A.  C.  Biddle, 
W.   B.   Young." 

7.  Name  of  the  Board  Is  Changed. 

Under  the  charter,  and  for  legal  reasons,  the  name  of  the  Board 
is  changed  from  "The  Board  of  Publication"  to  "The  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Board  of  Publication." 

8.  Weekly  Papers  and  Periodicals. 

(Note. — I  am  not  sure  that  I  have  a  complete  list,  and  from  this 
late  date  it  is  simply  impossible  to  give  dates  of  first  and  last  issues. 
From  time  to  time  these  periodicals  have  appeared  before  the 
Church.) 

The  Religious  Intelligencer  (1830),  The  Revivalist,  The  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian,  The  Banner  of  Peace,  The  Ark,  The  Union  and 
Evangelist,  The  Evangelist  and  Observer,  The  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian, The  Quarterly  Review,  The  Ladies'  Pearl,  The  Theological 
Medium,  The  Watchman  and  Evangelist,  The  Western  Cumberland 
Presbyterian,  The  Texas  Cumberland  Presbyterian,  Our  Faith,  The 
Pacific  Observer,  The  Central  Cumberland  Presbyterian,  The  McGhee 
Observer,  The  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Banner,  and  The  Cumberland 
Presbyterian. 

9.  Assembly  Commends  Its  Papers. 

That  the  General  Assembly  most  heartily  commends  The  Cumber- 
land Banner,  now  published  at  Jasper,  Tenn.,  not  as  a  Church  organ 
— for  we  are  a  little  weary  of  "Church  organs" — but  as  a  faithful  and 
fearless  exponent  of  Cumberland  Presbyterianism  in  the  hour  of 
great  trial.  That  we  cordially  endorse  T.  A.  Havron,  its  self -sacrific- 
ing editor;  and  that  we  urge  our  Presbyteries  to  use  diligence  to  give 
our  paper  the  largest  possible  circulation  within  their  bounds. — 
Adopted,  1996,  p.  14. 

We  now  have  a  list  of  over  5,000  subscribers  to  The  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  and  a  rapid  advancement  that  is  gratifying.  We  think 
Rev.  J.  L.  Hudgins,  our  efficient  editor,  is  the  right  man  in  the  right 
place,  and  we  recommend  that  he  be  re-elected  at  his  present  salary. 
—1911,  p.  120. 

We  wish  to  strongly  endorse  our  Cumberland  Presbyterian  papers 
— to^it:  The  Cumberland  Presbyterian,  The  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian Banner,  and  The  Cumberland  Observer.    We  therefore  recom- 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  215 

mend  that  all  pastors  be  urged  to  place  the  papers  of  our  Church  in 
the  homes  of  our  people  and  that  they  be  satisfied  with  nothing  less 
than  a  Cumberland  Presbyterian  paper  in  every  home  within  the 
bounds  of  their  pastorates. — Adopted,  1912,  p.  129. 

10.  The  Merging  of  Two  Boards:  The  Board  of  Publication  and  the 
Board  of  Sunday  Schools  and  Young  People's  Work. 

Joint  Report  of  the  Committee  on  Publication  and  the  Committee  on 
Sabbath  Schools  and  Young  People's  Work. 

Whereas,  it  occurring  to  the  Committee  on  Publication  and  the 
Committee  on  Sabbath  School  and  Young  People's  Work  that  at  least 
a  part  of  the  work  of  each  is  identical;  we  therefore,  in  a  joint  meet- 
ing of  the  two  committees,  recommend  to  the  Assembly  the  follow- 
ing: 

1.  That  inasmuch  as  the  work  of  Publication  and  the  work  of  the 
Board  of  Sabbath  Schools  and  Young  People's  Work  are  to  a  great 
extent  covering  the  same  field  the  two  Boards  should  be  combined, 
under  both  names,  the  hold-over  members  of  both  Boards  and  Rev.  T. 
Ashburn,  who  retires  from  the  Sunday  School  Board  at  this  Assem- 
bly constitute  the  Board,  consisting  of  the  following  members  and 
classifications: 

Class  I — Rev.  T.  Ashburn,  Rev.  W.  H.  McLeskey,  F.  A.  Seagle. 
ClassII— Rev.  W.  B.  Duck,  H.  J.  Graf,  Rev.  J.  H.  Zwingle. 
Class  III — J.  H.  Zarecor,  Frank  Slemons,  and  J.  M.  Gallaher. 

2.  We  recommend  that  the  Board  employ  and  fix  the  salaries  of 
editor,  managers,  and  other  employees  subject  to  the  approval  of  the 
General  Assembly. 

3.  We  recommend  further  that  as  soon  as  possible  the  Board  shall 
employ  one  or  moie  workers  in  the  field  for  Sunday  School  Exten- 
sion. 

4.  We  recommend  that  the  Board  of  Publication  be  authorized  and 
instructed  to  take  such  measures  as  may  be  necessary  to  amend  the 
charter  of  said  Board  to  meet  the  legal  requirements  of  this  con- 
solidation.— 1916,  p.  111. 

III.  BOARD  OF  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  AND  YOUNG  PEOPLE'S 

WORK. 

1.  Board  Created  in  1903. 

We  therefore  recommend  that  such  a  Board  be  created  under  the 
name  of  the  "Board  of  Sunday  School  and  Young  People's  Work," 
with  headquarters  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  the  said  Board  to  become  in- 
corporated and  to  be  composed  of  nine  members." 


216  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

2.  Board  Dismissed  in  1905. 

"Resolved:  That  the  action  of  the  Assembly  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  in 
1903,  in  creating  the  Board  of  Sunday  School  and  Young  People's 
Work,  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  rescinded;  and  it  is  further  recom- 
mended that  the  missionary  interests  of  the  Sunday  school  and 
Christian  Endeavor  be  referred  to  the  Board  of  Missions  and  Church 
Erection."— 1905,  p.  73. 

3.  Board  Reinstated  in  1906. 

The  vi^ork  of  this  Board  was  reinstatetd,  and  a  new  personnel  named, 
as  seen  in  the  following  action: 

"On  motion  the  following  persons  were  named  to  fill  the  vacancies 
caused  by  the  hegira:  On  the  Board  of  Sunday  School  and  Young 
People's  Work,  Rev.  T.  Ashbcm,  Rev.  J,  T.  Barbee,  William  Reister, 
and  William  Reiber."— 1906,  p.  12. 

(Note. — T.  W.  Keller  and  J.  M.  Gallagher  were  added  in  1907. — 
A.  C.  B.) 

4.  Merged  with  Board  of  Publication  in  1916. 

(See  "Merging  of  the  Two  Boards,"  page,  215.) 

IV.  THE  BOARD  OF  MISSIONS. 

1.  Early   Missionary  Work. 

The  records  show  that  from  the  beginning  the  Cumberland  Pres- 
byterian Church  was  actuated  by  a  missionary  spirit.  Some  four 
years  passed  after  the  organization  of  Cumberland  Presbytery,  on 
Febi-uary  4,  1810,  before  it  was  apparent  that  a  separate  denomina- 
tion was  to  be  the  result.  Work  as  a  new  Church  dates  from  the 
organization  of  the  first  Synod,  rather  than  from  1810. 

The  first  Synod  was  organized  at  the  Beech  meeting-house,  in  Sum- 
ner County,  Tenn.,  on  October  5,  1813.  The  original  Presbytery  haa 
been  divided  into  three  Presbyteries,  viz.:  Logan,  Elk,  and  Cumt)er- 
land.  At  this  meeting  of  the  Synod  the  name  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbytery  was  changed  to  that  of  Nashville. 

All  three  of  the  Presbyteries  which  composed  the  first  Synod  at 
once  began  missionary  work.  In  1818,  societies  were  formed  with  a 
view  of  missionary  effort  among  the  Indians.  It  appears  that  the 
three  Presbyteries  entered  upon  this  work  almost  simultaneously, 
there  being  but  a  few  days'  difference  in  the  meetings  of  these  bodies, 
when  the  movement  was  inaugurated.  Elk,  it  appears,  was  the  first 
to  begin.  The  missionary  movement  seems  to  have  started  with  Rev. 
Samuel  King,  Rev.  James  Stewart,  and  Rev.  Robert  Bell.  Mr.  Bell 
drew  up  a  constitution  for  a  Ladies'  Missionary  Society,  under  which 
the  societies  of  all  the  Presbyteries  worked. 

In  October,  1818,  the  Central  Board  of  Elk  Presbytery  sent  Rev. 
Samuel  King  and  Rev.  William  Moore  to  the  Indians.    When  they  re- 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  217 

turned,  in  the  spring  of  1819,  and  made  a  report  of  their  work,  the 
Presbytery  sent  Mr.  King  back,  and  with  him  Rev.  Robert  Bell,  to 
evangelize  among  the  Indians.  Mr.  Bell  opened  a  school  for  the  In- 
dians, in  May,  1820,  which  was  continued  until  about  1832.  In  the 
meantime  a  Board  of  Missions  for  the  entire  Church  had  been  or- 
ganized; or  rather,  "the  Ladies'  Missionary  Society  of  Logan  Presby- 
tery, without  ceasing  to  be  the  Presbyterial  Society,  was  also  made 
the  General  Society  of  the  Church,  and  all  the  ministers  of  the  Church 
were  appointed  trustees.  Rev.  Robert  Donnell,  of  Elk  Presbytery,  be- 
came the  President  of  the  General  Board  at  Russellville.  ...  As 
the  Society  of  Logan  Presbytery,  it  had  the  ministers  of  that  Pres- 
bytery for  one  of  these  Boards;  as  the  General  Missionary  Society  of 
the  Church  it  had  all  the  preachers  in  the  Church  for  the  other."  The 
work  among  the  Indians  was  then  called  foreign  missions;  now  it  is 
known  as  home  missions. 

In  1815,  Rev.  Thomas  Calhoun  and  Rev.  Robert  Donnell  visited  East 
Tennessee  and  held  revival  meetings,  but  did  not  undertake  to  organize 
churches.  The  Presbyterian  Church  received  the  benefit  of  their  la- 
bors. The  next  year  Mr.  Calhoun  was  sent  for  and  crossed  the  moun- 
tains and  filled  a  long  list  of  appointments  in  special  meetings.  In 
1818  Rev.  David  Foster,  by  order  of  the  Nashville  Presbytery,  went 
to  a  circuit  in  East  Tennessee.  In  1821  Rev.  J.  S.  Guthrie  was  sent 
to  the  Hiwassee  circuit.  Later  Rev.  Robert  Baker,  Rev.  Abner  Lans- 
den.  Rev.  George  Donnell,  and  Rev.  S.  M.  Aston  were  sent  to  that 
field.  In  1826,  the  Presbytery  from  Middle  Tennessee  crossed  the 
mountains  and  held  a  session  in  a  private  house  in  East  Tennessee. 
In  1827,  the  Knoxville  Presbytery  was  organized. 

The  Nashville  Presbytery  established  circuits  in  West  Tennessee  as 
fast  as  the  country  was  opened.  Rev.  John  L.  Dillard  and  Rev.  James 
McDonnold  were  sent  thither,  in  1820.  In  1821,  Rev.  Richard  Beard 
was  sent  to  a  work  in  that  section.  Others  were  sent  from  time  to 
time,  and  the  work  prospered.  In  1824,  Hopewell  Presbytery  was  or- 
ganized. In  the  same  manner  Alabama  and  Mississippi  were  visited 
as  the  territories  were  opened  to  white  settlers. 

Logan  Presbytery  sent  missionaries  to  Indiana,  Illinois,  Ohio,  and 
Missouri;  and  besides  this  looked  after  the  destitute  parts  nearer 
home.  In  1811,  Rev.  William  Harris  visited  Indiana.  In  1817,  by 
order  of  Logan  Presbytery,  Rev.  Alexander  Chapman  and  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Bamett  made  a  tour  of  the  State.  A  member  of  Rev.  Finis 
Ewing's  congregation,  in  Kentucky,  had  moved  to  Illinois.  He  wrote 
an  urgent  letter  to  Rev.  William  Bamett  to  visit  that  section.  Mr. 
Bamett  journeyed  at  once  to  Illinois,  and  he  and  Rev.  Green  P.  Rice 
held  the  first  Cumberland  Presbyterian  campmeeting  ever  held  in  the 
State.  This  was  in  1817.  In  1819,  the  Ladies'  Missionary  Society  at 
Russellville,  Ky.,  was  instrumental  in  sending  Rev.  R.  D.  Morrow  as 
a  missionary  to  Missouri.    In  1820,  the  Board  of  Missions  sent  Rev. 


218  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

Alexander  Chapman  on  a  missionary  tour  through  Illinois.  In  1819, 
McGee  Presbytery  was  organized  in  Missouri,  and  in  1822  Illinois 
Presbytery  was  formed  in  Illinois. 

In  the  same  manner  the  home  missionary  effort  of  early  Cumber- 
land Presbyterians  can  be  traced  in  planting  churches  in  Arkansas, 
Ohio,  and  Pennsylvania.  In  those  early  years  the  missionary  spirit 
of  the  denomination  was  its  very  life;  and  but  for  the  self-sacrificing 
spirit  of  those  consecrated  men  and  women,  Cumberland  Presbyterian- 
ism  would  to-day  be  very  much  circumscribed.  In  1829  the  General 
Assembly  was  organized;  and  in  1831  it  directed  that  "all  the  Pres- 
byteries form  home  missionary  societies  and  that  each  congregation 
be  an  auxiliary  society  to  raise  funds  for  the  support  of  mission- 
aries." 

For  several  years  after  the  organization  of  the  General  Assembly 
the  missionary  work  of  the  Church  was  carried  on  by  the  Synods  and 
Presbyteries,  but  the  time  came  when  the  work  needed  to  be  unified. 
The  spirit  of  missions  is  the  spirit  of  the  Church,  and  from  time  to 
time  opportunity  and  encouragement  comes  to  the  worker.  In  1836 
the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  was  created — 1836,  p.  270  mss.  In 
1845  a  Board  of  Foreign  and  Domestic  Missions  was  created,  and  lo- 
cated at  Lebanon,  Tenn.  In  1866  the  Board  of  Missions  was  located 
at  Alton,  111.,  and  was  operating  under  a  charter  from  that  State.  In 
1879  we  find  this  same  Board  located  in  St.  Louis,  and  with  a  charter 
from  the  State  of  Missouri,  with  only  five  members,  instead  of  twelve 
as  foiTnerly  constituted;  and  to  the  year  1906  continued  there,  doing 
a  great  work  in  domestic  and  foreign  missions.  In  1906  the  mem- 
bers of  this  Board,  which  now  had  been  increased  to  seven,  defected 
to  another  Church,  and  the  Assembly  forthwith  appointed  their  suc- 
cessors as  follows: 

"On  motion  the  following  were  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancies  in 
the  Board  of  Missions  and  Church  Erection:  Judge  F.  H.  Prendergast, 
Rev.  W.  M.  Robison,  William  Clark,  Rev.  J.  L.  Joyner,  and  Frank 
Hall,  with  headquarters  at  Marshall,  Tex. 

This  Texas  Board  resigned  as  a  body  to  the  Assembly  at  Dickson, 
Tenn.,  in  1910,  turning  over  to  the  Assembly  all  its  papers,  books,  and 
properties,  and  the  General  Assembly,  through  its  Committee  on  Mis- 
sions, took  the  following  action: 

"The  paper  placed  in  our  hands,  announcing  the  resignation  of  all 
the  members  of  the  Board  of  Missions  in  order  that  the  Board  may 
be  reoi'ganized  and  made  to  conform  to  the  requirements  and  condi- 
tions of  the  charter  under  which  the  said  Board  is  to  operate,  we, 
your  committee,  after  due  consideration,  would  recommend  that  the 
following  named  brethren  be  appointed  as  composing  the  new  Board: 
Rev.  J.  W.  Duvall,  Rev.  J.  E.  Cortner,  Rev.  T.  C.  Newman,  Elder  G.  P. 
Grimes,  Rev.  A.  M.  Buchanan,  Elder  F.  E.  Allen,  and  Rev.  J.  L. 
JojTier."— 1910,  p.  55. 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  219 

The  above-named  gentlemen  were  appointed,  at  once  organized, 
and  began  operations  as  the  "Board  of  Missions  and  Church  Erec- 
tion," under  a  charter  granted  by  the  Judge  of  the  Eighth  Judicial 
Circuit,  State  of  Missouri,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  1892.  Properly 
attested. 

The  personnel  of  this  Board  in  1918:  Rev.  A.  M.  Buchanan,  Presi- 
dent, Rev.  J.  W.  Duvall,  Treasurer,  Rev.  F.  C.  Hughes,  R.  C.  Ewell, 
J.  E.  Eberts,  G.  W.  Freeman,  and  Rev.  R.  L.  Layman. 

V.  WOMAN'S  BOARD  OF  MISSIONS. 

In  1880  the  General  Assembly  met  in  Evansville,  Ind.  A  call  was 
issued  to  the  women  of  the  Church  to  meet  in  the  same  city,  during 
the  sittings  of  the  General  Assembly,  for  the  purpose  of  organizing 
a  Woman's  Board  of  Foreign  Missions.  The  meeting  was  well  at- 
tended, and  the  following  will  show  with  what  results: 

The  following  communication  from  the  Woman's  Convention  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  was  read,  and  approval  thereof  was 
expressed  by  an  unanimous  rising  vote: 

To  the  Moderator  and  Members  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church: 
The  convention  of  the  women  of  the  Cumbei'land  Presbyterian 
Church,  called  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  a  Woman's  Board  of 
Foreign  Missions,  after  earnest  and  prayerful  consideration  of  the 
subject,  have  determined  to  organize  said  Board  and  to  locate  it  at 
Evansville,  Ind.,  with  the  following  members:  Mrs.  Rachel  Ruston, 
Mrs.  D.  S.  Ragan,  Mrs.  N.  A.  Lyon,  Mrs.  W.  F.  Nisbet,  Mrs.  W.  J. 
Darby,  of  Evansville;  Mrs.  M.  J.  Parsons,  of  Newburg,  Ind.;  and  Mrs. 
William  Kurtz,  of  Princeton,  Ind.  Thanking  you  for  the  encourage- 
ment already  given  us,  we  sincerely  ask  your  sympathy  and  prayers 
in  behalf  of  the  important  work  in  which  we  have  embarked,  that 
through  the  instrumentality  of  the  missionaries  our  Board  may  send 
to  heathen  lands,  multitudes  of  our  sisters  may  be  brought  to  a  knowl- 
edge of  Christ. 

Mrs.  Mary  McGindley, 
Miss  Belle  M.  Day, 

Committee. 

The  Stated  Clerk  was  ordered  to  prepare  a  suitable  response  to 
said  communication,  whereupon  the  following  was  sent  in  reply: 

To  the  Woman's  Convention  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church, 

now  in  Session  in  Evansville,  Ind.: 

The  communication  of  your  committee  to  our  General  Assembly 

was  most  gratefully  received,  and  approval  thereof  was  expressed  by 

an  unanimous  rising  vote.     We  pledge  you  our  most  prayerful  sym- 


220  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

pathy  and  co-operation  in   your  grand  work  in  behalf  of  heathen 
women  in  foreign  lands.     May  the  God  of  all  grace  abundantly  bless 
and  prosper  your  new  Board  and  all  your  efforts  in  your  noble  mis- 
sion. John  Frizzell,  Stated  Clerk. 
Evansville,  Ind.,  May  27,  1880.  —1880,  pp.  38,  39. 

Charter  of  the  Woman's  Board  of  Missions  of  the  Cumberland  Pres- 
byterian Church. 

We,  the  undersigned,  desiring  to  form  ourselves  into  a  corporate 
Missionary  Board,  in  pursuance  of  the  provisions  contained  in  Article 
IV.  of  the  Revised  Statutes  of  Indiana,  declare  as  follows: 

Section  1.  The  name  of  this  coi-poration  shall  be.  Woman's  Board 
of  Foreign  Missions  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. 

Section  2.  The  object  of  this  corporation  shall  be  to  promote  an  in- 
terest especially  among  the  members  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyte- 
rian Church,  in  behalf  of  Foreign  Missions,  and  to  co-operate  with 
the  General  Assembly's  Board  of  Missions  in  sending  the  gospel  to 
foreign  lands,  especially  to  heathen  women  and  children,  and  to  any 
of  the  tribes  of  North  American  Indians.  All  property  both  real  and 
personal,  which  may  be  acquired  by  this  corporation,  shall  be  held  in 
trust  by  it  for  such  purposes. 

Section  3.  This  corporation  shall  be  subject  to  the  control  and  pat- 
ronage of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church,  in  manner  as  follows: 

(1)  The  General  Assembly  aforesaid  shall  have  the  right,  through 
its  Board  of  Missions,  to  prescribe  all  qualifications  of  missionaries, 
physical,  educational,  and  religious. 

(2)  This  corporation  shall  have  the  right  to  nominate  as  mission- 
aries any  persons  possessing  the  qualifications  required,  to  the  prop- 
erly constituted  authority  of  the  said  General  Assembly  for  its  ap- 
proval and  commission. 

(3)  The  said  General  Assembly,  in  any  manner  it  may  elect,  shall 
have  the  right  to  indicate  the  fields  of  labor  to  which  said  mission- 
aries shall  go  and  shall  likewise  have  the  right  to  define  their  duties 
and  fix  their  salaries. 

Section  4.  This  corporation  may  organize  such  auxiliary  societies 
as  it  may  deem  proper  and  shall  have  the  right  to  control  its  own 
internal  affairs,  according  to  the  judgment  of  its  trustees  and  officers, 
and  all  property  of  every  description,  which  it  may  acquire,  shall  be 
devoted  exclusively  to  the  purposes  enumerated  in  Section  1;  and  the 
General  Assembly  aforesaid  shall  have  no  power  to  direct  the  same  to 
other  uses.  This  corporation  shall  not  invest  any  of  its  funds  in  real 
estate  in  any  foreigrx  lands  except  through  and  in  the  name  of  the 
Board  om  Missions.  Any  matters  of  difference  arising  between  this 
corporation  and  any  other  similarly  constituted  authority,  in  the  Cum- 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  221 

berland  Presbyterian  Church,  shall  be  referred  to  the  General  Assem- 
bly of  the  said  Church,  and  its  decision  shall  be  final. 

Section  5.  This  corporation  proposes  to  raise  such  funds  as  may 
be  needed  by  voluntary  contributions,  collected  through  the  agency 
of  its  several  auxiliary  societies;  also  to  accept  invitations,  bequests, 
and  devises  from  individuals.  The  amount  already  donated  to  the 
Board  is  $ . 

Section  6.  Donations  and  contributions  may  be  represented  by 
shares  of  (30)  thirty  dollars  each,  which  shai-e  shall  not  be  assign- 
able, but  shall  be  personal  to  the  party  to  whom  originally  issued. 

Section  7.  The  successors  to  the  subscribers  hereto  shall  be  such 
trustees  as  may  be  designated  in  convention  formed  by  delegates  f i-om 
auxiliary  societies,  synodical  vice  presidents,  and  life  members.  The 
convention,  so  composed,  shall  nominate  to  the  acting  Board  of  Trus- 
tees a  full  Board  for  its  approval,  and  it  shall  be  competent  for  said 
convention  to  nominate  any  one  or  more  of  the  acting  Board.  It 
shall  be  the  duty  of  the  said  acting  Board,  at  its  first  meeting  there- 
after, to  elect  the  persons  so  designated  by  said  convention. 

In  1890  the  Woman's  Board  determined  "to  aid  in  the  Home  Feld" 
(Assembly  Minutes,  1890,  p.  44)  and  accordingly  had  the  name  of 
the  organization  changed  from  "the  Woman's  Board  of  Foreign  Mis- 
sions of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church"  to  "the  Woman's  Board 
of  Missions  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church." 

Constitution  of  the  Board. 

Article  1.  This  Society  shall  be  called  the  Woman's  Board  of  Mis- 
sions of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. 

Article  2.  The  object  of  this  Board  shall  be  to  promote  an  interest 
among  the  women  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  and  to 
work  in  co-operation  with  the  General  Assembly's  Board  of  Missions 
for  the  evangelization  of  the  world. 

Article  3.  The  Board  shall  consist  of  nine  members,  four  of  whom 
shall  constitute  a  quorum.  They  shall  elect  their  own  ofl!icers  and 
employ  such  assistants  as  the  necessities  of  the  work  may  demand. 

Article  4.  They  shall  have  power  to  appoint  a  Vice  President  for 
each  Synod,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  hold  annually  a  meeting  in  con- 
nection with  Synod;  a  Board  of  Managers,  who  shall  devise  and  use 
means  for  extending  missionary  influence  in  the  Church,  also  to 
seek  and  recommend  to  the  Board  suitable  women  for  missionaries; 
an  Auditor,  who  shall  examine  thoroughly  all  books  and  papers  of 
the  Treasurer,  and  furnish  a  certificate  of  the  result  of  the  same  to 
the  Board. 

Article  5.  The  meetings  of  the  Board  shall  be  held  monthly,  or 
oftener,  at  the  call  of  the  President.  There  shall  be  an  annual  meet- 
ing, at  which  each  auxiliary  society  shall  be  entitled  to  two  delegates. 
At  each  annual  meeting  an  address  by  the  President,  reports  by  the 


222  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

Corresponding  Secretary  and  Treasurer  shall  be  presented,  members 
of  the  Board  elected,  and  other  business  transacted. 

Article  6.  Any  number  of  women,  contributing  each  thirty-five  cents 
per  quarter,  may  form  a  society  auxiliary  to  the  Board,  the  usual  dues 
being  foi-warded  to  the  Board,  the  remainder  being  retained  and 
equally  divided  between  the  presbyterial  and  synodical  funds. 

Article  7.  The  Board  shall  have  power  to  make  all  necessary  by- 
laws and  fill  vacancies  occurring  during  the  year. 

Article  8.  The  payment  of  thirty  dollars  shall  constitute  a  life  mem- 
bership of  this  Board,  provided  the  sum  exceeds  the  regular  dues  of 
any  auxiliary  society. 

Article  9.  This  Constitution  may  be  altered  or  amended  by  a  vote 
of  two-thirds  of  the  members  at  any  annual  meeting. 

The  Charter  and  Constitution  of  the  Board  make  it  auxiliary  to 
the  General  Assembly's  Board.  The  Woman's  Board  has  ever  been 
loyal  to  its  chartered  and  constitutional  purpose.  Through  its  ma- 
chinery and  the  devotion  of  its  constituency  the  Woman's  Board  has 
raised  annually  a  good  sum  of  money  for  the  advancement  of  the 
missionary  work  of  the  Church.  Seventeen  women  (whose  names  are 
included  in  the  lists  on  preceding  pages)  have  been  sent  to  the  for- 
eign field;  and  they  have  received  their  support  through  this  Board. 

Personnel  of  the  Present  Board. 

The  Woman's  Board  of  Missions  has  always  been  loyal  to  the 
Church  and  obedient  to  the  General  Assembly,  making  report  of  any 
changes  and  asking  the  Assembly  to  ratify  the  election  of  its  officers. 
In  agreement  with  this  custom,  the  Moderator  appointed  the  Rev.  A. 
C.  Biddle,  of  Clarksville  Presbytery,  to  cast  the  vote  of  the  Assembly 
electing  the  following  as  the  members  of  the  Woman's  Board  of  Mis- 
sions: Mrs.  Mattie  Ashburn,  President  Emeritus;  Mrs.  Johnnie  M. 
Clay,  President;  Mrs.  Gertrude  Schultz,  Mrs.  Lydia  E.  Tupman,  Mrs. 
Tillie  M.  Stone,  Mrs.  Anna  M.  Conn,  Miss  Mattie  Huber,  and  Mrs. 
Mary  M.  Graf,  Corresponding  Secretary  and  Treasurer. — 1918,  p.  20. 

VI.  THE  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY. 

As  early  as  1830,  at  the  second  annual  meeting  of  the  General  As- 
sembly, the  advisability  of  establishing  a  Theological  Seminary  in 
connection  with  Cumberland  College,  at  Princeton,  Ky.,  was  considered. 
While  the  sentiment  was  in  favor  of  the  establishment  of  such  an 
institution,  it  was  determined  that  it  was  not  expedient  to  do  so  at 
that  time.— 1830,  p.  36,  MSS. 

1.  The  Assembly  Plans  a  Theological  School. 

1.  The  Plan  Drawn  and  Adopted. — A  committee  was  appointed  to 
"mature  plans  for  the  establishment  of  a  Theological  Department  in 
Cumberland  University." — 1850,  p.  17. 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  223 

This  committee  made  a  report  and  submitted  articles  to  govern  the 
Theological  school.— 1852,  p.  36-43. 

2.  Board  of  Trustees. — The  General  Assembly  entered  into  an 
agreement  with  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Cumberland  University 
whereby  said  Board  of  Trustees  was  to  introduce  a  Theological  De- 
partment into  Cumberland  University,  while  the  Assembly  should 
control  in  faculty  and  docti'ine. — 1850,  pp.  41,  42. 

3.  Discusses  a  Separate  Board  of  Trustees. — "The  propriety  of  hav- 
ing a  separate  Board  of  Trustees  for  it  (the  Seminary)  has  often 
been  discussed,  but  its  own  interests  are  against  such  change." — Mc- 
Donnold's  History,  p.  522. 

4.  Appoints  a  Separate  Board  of  Trustees. — Whereas,  said  Trustees 
of  Cumberland  University  have  now  denied  the  right  of  the  General 
Assembly  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  to  control,  man- 
age, or  in  any  wise  direct  the  use  of  said  fund,  and  have  submitted 
themselves  to  the  direction  and  control  of  the  General  Assembly  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  U.  S.  A.;  and. 

Whereas,  this  Assembly  believes  that  said  action  upon  the  part  of 
said  board  is  a  breach  of  trust  upon  which  said  fund  is  held,  it  now 
declares  its  intention  to  remove  said  fund  and  property  representing 
same  and  parts  of  same  from  the  control  and  possession  of  said  Board 
of  Tnistees  of  Cumberland  University,  and  place  it  under  the  control 
of  the  trustees  provided  for  in  the  Contitution  of  1852,  hereinbefore 
mentioned  and  quoted  from,  and,  with  that  end  in  view,  it  hereby 
appoints  Rev.  J,  R.  Goodpasture,  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Rev.  J.  L.  Hudgins, 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  W.  T.  Marshall,  Lebanon,  Tenn.,  Capt.  H.  T.  Norman, 
Lebanon,  Tenn.,  and  W,  L.  Danley,  Nashville,  Tenn.,  tnistees,  and 
directs  them  to  take  such  steps  as  are  necessary  to  remove  said  fund 
and  property,  real  and  personal,  from  the  control  of  the  present 
trustees,  who  are  acting  under  the  direction  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  U.  S.  A.,  and  said  trustees  herein  appointed  may  incorporate 
themselves  for  the  purpose  of  securing,  holding,  and  administering 
said  ti-ust  fund  and  property;  and. 

Whereas,  since  the  Constitution,  or  plan,  of  1852  was  enacted,  dif- 
ferences have  arisen  as  to  the  administration  of  the  funds  and  prop- 
erty of  the  Theological  Department  as  between  the  General  Assembly 
and  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Cumberland  University;  and, 

Whereas,  provision  has  been  made  at  the  present  meeting  of  this 
Assembly  for  the  appointment  of  a  Board  of  Trustees  for  Cumberland 
University  who  shall  represent  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church, 
it  is  the  desire  of  this  Assembly  that  the  board  of  five  herein  appointed 
shall  confer  with  and  make  such  arrangements  with  said  Board  of 
Ti-ustees  of  Cumberland  University  as  may  be  necessaiy  for  the 
carrying  out  of  the  trust,  both  as  to  the  university  proper  and  as  to 
the  Theological  Department  and  its  fund. — 1910,  pp.  45-47. 

5.  Trustees  of  Seminary  Secure  Charter. — Under  order  of  the  Gen- 


224  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

eral  Assembly  this  Board  proceeds  at  once  to  organize  and  to  secure 
a  charter,  as  follows: 

"State  of  Tennessee, 
Charter  of  Incorporation, 
"Be  it  knovm  that  J.  R.  Goodpasture,  J.  L.  Hudgins,  W.  T.  Marshall, 
H.  T.  Norman,  and  W.  L.  Danley  ai-e  thereby  created  a  body  politic 
and  corporate  by  the  name  and  style  of  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Theological  Seminary."  (Here  follows  code  and  usual  statement  of 
the  powers  of  such  institution;  witnessed,  signed,  sealed,  and  reg- 
istered the  fifth  day  of  May,  1919.)— 1911,  pp.  22-25. 

6.  Personnel  of  Board  in  1918.— Rev.  Hugh  S.  McCord,  Rev.  T.  C. 
Newman,  Rev.  J.  H.  Thomas,  Rev.  J.  L.  Hudgins,  Hon.  W.  T.  Marshall, 
Rev.  G.  W.  Burroughs,  Rev.  B.  J.  Reagin,  Dr.  D.  M.  McAnulty,  and 
Rev.  A.  D.  Rudolph.— Minutes  of  1918,  p.  5. 

VII.   BOARD   OF   MINISTERIAL   RELIEF. 

In  the  ear'lier  history  of  the  Church  the  care  of  the  dependent  su- 
perannuated ministers  and  their  families  was  left,  for  the  most  part, 
to  the  Presbyteries  and  the  local  churches.  Occasionally,  however, 
some  specific  case  was  brought  to  the  attention  of  the  General  As- 
sembly.    The  following  are  instances  of  this  class: 

Whereas,  this  General  Assembly  has  learned  that  the  Rev.  Samuel 
McAdow,  our  oldest  preacher  and  one  of  those  who  aided  in  the  con- 
stitution of  our  Church,  is  now  living  in  the  State  of  Illinois;  and 
knowing  that  he  is  old  and  aflflicted,  and  in  circumstances  quite  ne- 
cessitous; therefore  be  it 

Resolved  by  this  General  Assembly:  That  Rev.  John  Barbour,  Sr., 
endeavor  to  leam  the  true  condition  of  the  aged  father  and  repoi-t 
to  the  next  Assembly,  and  that  this  Assembly  feel  bound  to  sustain 
him,  if  need  be,  as  long  as  he  lives.  This  is  in  addition  to  the  pres- 
ent aid,  afforded  by  the  personal  contributions  by  the  General  As- 
sembly and  others,  and  now  transmitted  by  a  brother. — 1833,  pp.  171- 
173,  MSS. 

The  committee  authorized  to  receive  contributions  for  the  benefit 
of  the  Rev.  Samuel  McAdow  reported  the  receipt  of  $107.06. — 1834,  p. 
212,  MSS. 

On  motion,  the  following  preamble  and  resolution  were  adopted: 

Whereas,  this  Assembly  has  knowledge  of  the  dependent  situation 
of  the  wife  and  family  of  Brother  McLinn,  deceased;  therefore  be  it 

Resolved:  That  their  situation  be  presented  to  the  Church  and  a 
collection  made  for  their  benefit  and  forwarded  to  the  next  General 
Assembly. 

In  1880  the  Presbytery  of  Hiwassee  (now  Knoxville)  sent  a  memo- 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  225 

rial  to  the  General  Assembly,  raising  the  question  of  the  advisability 
of  this  work's  being  done  through  a  central  Board  instead  of  by  the 
Presbyteries.— 1880,  p.  11. 

1.  Board  Located  at  Evansville,  Ind. 

This  report  was  referred  to  another  committee,  whose  report  there- 
on was  adopted,  and  is  as  follows: 

We  have  duly  considered  the  report  of  the  committee  appointed  by 
the  last  General  Assembly  (1889)  and  recommend  that  you  adopt  the 
same,  with  the  following  additional  provisions,  as  contemplated  by 
the  appointment  of  this  committee: 

1.  That  the  Board  of  Ministerial  Relief  be  located  at  Evansville, 
Ind. 

2.  That  the  Board  consist  of  the  following  members:  Rev.  W.  J. 
Darby,  Evansville,  Ind.;  Rev.  J.  E.  Jenkins,  Princeton,  Ind.;  Rev.  J.  S. 
Grider,  Bowling  Green,  Ky.;  B.  Bransford,  Owensboro,  Ky.;  W.  G. 
Ralston,  Evansville,  Ind.;  Alvah  Johnson,  Evansville,  Ind. 

2.  Assembly  Names  New  Members. 

Your  committee  is  informed  that  all  of  the  Board  of  Ministerial 
Relief  have  left  the  communion  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church  and  have  united  with  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United 
States  of  America,  except  Dr.  G,  W.  Ralston,  and  as  his  being  the 
only  one  left  of  the  former  nine  members  of  that  important  Board, 
your  committee  recommends  that  the  Assembly  proceeds  at  once  to 
fill  the  eight  vacancies  caused  by  the  apostasy  of  these  men. 

We  also  heartily  endorse  the  recommendation  of  the  Temporary 
Board,  that  the  Assembly  fix  the  bond  to  be  given  by  the  Treasurer 
and  Corresponding  Secretary. 

We  further  present  the  names  of  the  following  brethren  as  the 
proper  persons  for  said  Board:  Dr.  G.  W.  Ralston,  E.  M.  Johnson, 
W.  M.  Freeze,  J.  L.  Goodknight,  G.  W.  May,  J.  H.  Milholland,  J.  M. 
Wyckoff,  J.  A.  Hill,  and  R.  D.  Miller. 

We  recommend  that  the  bond  of  the  Treasurer  and  the  Correspond- 
ing Secretary  be  $5,000  each. 

3.  The  Board  Secures  a  New  Charter. 

In  making  its  thirty-third  annual  report  to  the  General  Assembly, 
the  Board  of  Ministerial  Relief,  through  its  attorney.  Judge  H.  H. 
Denhardt,  submits  to  the  Assembly  a  new  charter  issued  by  the 
Commonwealth  of  Kentucky.  This  new  charter  grants  to  the  Board 
that  while  "the  principal  office  and  place  of  business  of  the  corpora- 
tion shall  be  at  Bowling  Green,  Warren  County,  Ky.,  other  offices 
may  be  maintained  at  such  places  as  the  Board  may  deem  best." — 
1914,  pp.  43-46. 


226  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

The  Victoria  Jackson  Home. 

By  the  records  we  learn  that  Miss  Victoria  W.  Jackson,  a  life-long 
Cumberland  Presbyterian,  had,  at  her  death,  bequeathed  her  beautiful 
home  to  the  Church  as  an  Orphan's  Home;  the  property  is  said  to 
be  worth  $10,000;  and  the  steps  by  which  this  valuable  bequest  was 
turned  over  to  the  Board  of  Ministerial  Relief  are  graphically  shown 
in  the  records. — 1913,  pp.  63-80. 

5.  The  Personnel  of  the   Board,   1918. 
Rev.  C.  A.  Galloway,  Harry  Copper,  R.  M.  Lisman,  Rev.  J.  T.  Cole- 
man, Rev.  J.  M.  Cook,  Rev.  W.  H.  Hutchinson,  C.  E.  Cooper,  R,  B. 
Shaver,  and  Rev.  J.  A.  McLane,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 

6.  The   Board  of  Managers  of  the   Home. 

Dr.  T.  W.  Stone,  Judge  H.  H.  Denhardt,  Miss  Nina  McGinnis,  J.  W. 
Goodrum,  Miss  Josephine  Ennis,  Mrs.  J.  R.  Campbell,  Mrs.  J.  T. 
Cowles,  Mrs.  Charles  Drake,  Mrs.  J.  F.  Hendrick,  Mrs.  Mary  J.  Stone, 
Mrs.  W.  E.  Settle.— 1918,  p.  6. 

VIII.  THE   BOARD   OF   EDUCATION. 

As  early  as  1836  an  Educational  Society  was  organized,  under  a 
constitution,  with  Rev.  Robert  Donnell,  as  President,  and  Rev.  Samuel 
King,  as  Vice  President.— 1836,  Mss.  pp.  281,  282. 

1.  Name  Changed  to  Educational  Society. — A  new  charter  was 
granted  to  this  Board,  and  its  name  changed  to  the  Educational  So- 
ciety.—1907,  pp.  64,  65. 

2.  History  of  the  Board. — The  Board  of  Education  was  created  in 
1881;  changed  its  name  and  amended  its  charter  in  1895;  unfurled  its 
banner,  "Education  before  Ordination,"  in  1896;  exploited  the  "mil- 
lion-dollar-endowment" in  1899;  voted  as  one  man  for  the  merger  in 
1906;  and  was  dispossessed  of  office  by  the  unanimous  vote  of  the 
General  Assembly  in  1907. 

3.  Assembly  Fills  Vacancies. — On  motion,  to  fill  the  vacancies  caused 
by  defection  to  the  Presbyterian  Church,  U.  S.  A.,  the  General  As- 
sembly named  the  following  brethren  to  compose  the  Board  of  Edu- 
cation: Allen  Foust,  P.  F.  Johnson,  J.  W.  Smith,  W.  E.  Dunaway, 
J.  D.  Lewis,  Frank  Slemons,  J.  L.  Hudgins,  J.  N.  Parker,  and  C.  L. 
Wade. 

4.  Board  Co-Works  with  Seminary  Board. — "The  Board  of  Trus- 
tees of  the  Theological  Seminary  agrees  to  accept  the  joint  control  of 
the  Theological  School  and  to  become  responsible  for  the  salaries  of 
the  faculty,  and  the  incidental  expenses  of  the  institution  (the  The- 
ological Seminary). — 1914,  p.  103. 

5.  Board  of  Education  Secures  Its  Charter.— The  Board  reports  to 
the  General  Assembly  that  it  has  secured  a  charter  which  was  reg- 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  227 

istered  in  Nashville,  signed,  sealed,  and  delivered  on  the  19th  day  of 
January,  1915,  and  that  it  was  recorded  in  Huntingdon,  the  county 
seat  of  Carroll  County,  Tenn.— 1915,  p.  48-51. 

6.  Schools  under  Care  of  the  Board. — An  overture  from  West  Ten- 
nessee Synod  tendering  Bethel  College  to  the  General  Assembly  ap- 
pears on  the  records,  and  this  splendid  school  comes  under  the  fos- 
tering care  of  the  Board  of  Education.— 1918,  p.  100,  101. 

7.  Personnel  of  the  Board  of  Education,  1918.— C.  A.  Davis,  A.  C. 
Biddle,  J.  W.  Bumey,  J.  A.  Deaver  (in  the  army),  J.  W.  Dishman, 
C.  B.  Holladay,  R.  H.  Jackson,  R.  C.  Denny,  W.  B.  Cunningham,  Sec- 
retary and  Treasurer. 

IX.  BETHEL  COLLEGE. 

Surely  every  Cumberland  Presbyterian  will  place  the  Church  school 
as  of  prime  importance  among  the  agencies  of  the  General  Assembly. 
Presbyterial  and  Synodic  schools  and  academies  have  ever  done  heroic 
work  for  the  cause  of  education  and  the  Church.  Bethel  College,  of 
all  the  Church  schools  of  to-day,  seems  to  have  won  its  way  into  the 
fostering  care  of  the  Assembly.  As  early  as  1842  there  was  a  flourish- 
ing school  at  McLemoresville,  Tenn.,  known  as  Bethel  Seminary. 
In  1847  West  Tennessee  Synod  took  over  this  school,  secured  a  charter, 
and  continued  to  operate  it  as  Bethel  Seminary,  at  McLemoresville, 
Tenn.  Fi-om  the  charter,  and  the  succeeding  amendments  thereto,  we 
find- 
That  the  title  is  changed  to  Bethel  College  in  1850. 

That  the  school  moves  from  McLemoresville  to  McKenzie,  Tenn., 
in  1891. 

That  it  becomes  the  property  of  four  West  Tennessee  Presbyteries, 
Hopewell,  Obion,  Memphis,  and  Madison  Presbyteries,  in  1905. 

That  again  it  is  placed  under  control  of  West  Tennessee  Synod  in 
1917. 

That  it  was  tendered  by  West  Tennessee  Synod  to  the  General  As- 
sembly in  1918,  as  witness  the  following  action: 

"Bethel  College,  by  motion  and  second,  was  taken  temporily  under 
the  care  of  the  General  Assembly,  and  it  was  provided  by  the  motion 
that  the  income  from  the  Cynthia  Smith  legacy  be  used  for  the  as- 
sistance of  Bethel  College  until  needed  by  the  greater  school  to  be 
established.— 1918,  p.  28. 

1.  Bethel  College  Charter. 

(Acts  of  the  Legislature  of  1847-48,  p.  110,  chap.  71.) 
An  act  to  incorporate  Bethel  Seminary  in  the  County  of  Carroll, 
and  for  other  purposes. 

Whereas  the  West  Tennessee  Synod  of  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian Church  did  by  resolution,  passed  some  three  years  since,  de- 
termine to  establish  an  institution  within  its  ecclesiastical  jui'isdic- 


228  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

tion.  And  whereas  said  institution  has  been  located  at  McLemores- 
ville,  in  the  County  of  Carroll,  also  suitable  buildings  have  been 
erected  for  said  institution,  and  it  is  now  in  successful  operation  in 
its  fifth  session,  therefore 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Tennessee, 
that  A.  E.  Cooper,  Dr.  S.  Bigham,  J.  H.  Alesander,  Gilbert  Hart,  E. 
Gwin,  A.  P.  Hall,  J.  R.  Harrell,  A.  B.  Mitchum,  J.  Roach,  John  Simon, 
A.  H.  Smith,  J.  B.  Terry,  and  G.  Wilder,  and  their  successors  in  of- 
fice, are  hereby  constituted,  and  shall  forever  hereafter  be  a  body 
corpoi'ate  and  politic,  by  the  name  and  style  of  the  Trustees  of  Bethel 
Seminary,  and  by  that  name  and  title  shall  sue  and  be  sued,  plead 
and  be  impleaded,  answer  and  be  answered  unto  in  any  court  of  law 
or  equity  in  this  State,  and  shall  have  full  power  and  authority  to 
receive  and  make  title  to  property,  both  real  and  personal,  to  re- 
ceive and  hold  donations  and  legacies  for  the  benefit  of  said  institu- 
tion to  an  amount  not  exceeding  one  hundred  thousand  dollars;  to 
have  and  to  use  a  common  seal,  and  to  have  and  exercise  all  corporate 
privileges  usually  granted  to  similar  institutions  of  learning. 

(As  usual,  this  document  proceeds  in  order  to  define  the  rights 
granted,  the  amendments  prayed  and  granted  from  time  to  time,  and 
the  last  act  is  as  follows.) 

Be  it  enacted  that  all  former  acts  conflicting  with 
these  amendments  be  and  the  same  are  hereby  repealed,  and  that  this 
act  take  effect  from  and  after  its  passage,  the  public  welfare  requir- 
ing it. 

Clyde  Shropshire,  Speaker  of  House, 
W.  R.  Crabtree,  Speaker  of  Senate. 
Approved  March  27,  1917. 
Passed  March  14,  1917.  Tom  C.  Rye,  Govemor. 

2.  Faculty  and  Enrollment  in  Bethel  College. 
At  present  (1919)  there  are  seven  teachers  employed  as  the  Faculty 
of  Bethel  College — Literary,  four;  Music,  two;  Expression,  one.  The 
Faculty  as  employed  are:  Prof.  N.  J.  Finney,  President;  J.  R.  Garrett, 
A.  M.;  Miss  N.  E.  Grigsby,  M.  A.;  Miss  Ethel  Fisk,  Expression;  Mrs. 
W.  D.  Kelley,  Piano;  Miss  Willodine  Curtis,  Voice.  The  full  student 
body  nimibers  seventy. 

X.  THE  ASSEMBLY  ENDOWMENT  COMMISSION. 

In  February,  1918,  twenty-five  or  thirty  stalwart  lovers  of  the 
Church  met  in  the  city  of  Memphis  to  discuss  the  educational  needs 
of  the  present  time.  This  conference  organized  and  appointed  a  Com- 
mittee on  resolutions,  and  the  report  of  this  Committee  on  Resolu- 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  229 

tions,  as  adopted  by  the  Conference,  becomes  the  soul  and  center  of 
what  is  now  known  as  the  Endowment  Movement,  and  is  as  follows: 

Whereas  the  educational  needs  of  our  denomination  are  only  pro- 
vided for  in  part  by  the  present  educational  policy  of  our  Church,  and 
believing  that  the  time  has  fully  come  when  some  definite  plan  for 
concei'ted  action  should  be  adopted;  therefore  be  it 

Resolved:  That  this  conference  submit  to  the  General  Assembly, 
which  convenes  at  Dallas,  Tex.,  in  May,  1918,  the  following  policy  and 
program : 

1.  That  the  General  Assembly  establish  and  maintain  one  educa- 
tional institution,  which  shall  include  both  a  literary  and  a  theological 
department. 

2.  That  this  institution  shall  be  under  the  supervision  of  a  Board 
of  Tnistees  elected  by  the  General  Assembly. 

3.  That  the  General  Assembly,  at  its  meeting  in  May,  1918,  pro- 
vide for  the  raising  of  one-half  million  dollars  as  an  endowment  for 
the   literary   department. 

4.  That  endowment  of  the  two  departments  be  kept  separate  and 
distinct. 

5.  That  the  following  plan  be  adopted  for  the  raising  of  the  literary 
endowment: 

(a)  That  the  Assembly  appoint  an  Endowment  Committee. 

(b)  That  no  subscription  be  binding  until  at  least  a  quarter  of  a 
million  dollars  be  subscribed. 

(c)  That  when  a  quarter  of  a  million  dollars  has  been  subscribed 
all  subscriptions  become  binding,  and  are  due,  and  shall  be  paid  in 
cash  or  by  bankable  notes  bearing  interest  at  the  rate  of  six  per  cent 
per  annum. 

(d)  That  the  provisions  for  the  raising  of  the  literary  department 
endowment  shall  not  interfere  with  the  present  plan  of  raising  the 
theological  endowment. 

G.  W.  Burroughs,  Chairman, 
W.  B.  Cunningham,  Secretary. 

Accordingly,  the  General  Assembly  adopted  the  report  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  Education,  which  embraced  these  resolutions  (1918,  pp. 
106-108),  created  the  Educational  Commission,  and  named  its  officers. 

Committee  on  Endowment  Fund. 

Recommended  by  the  Committee  on  Education  and  appointed  by 
the  Assembly  to  sei-ve  on  the  Endowment  Fund  Committee:  H.  S. 
Seagle,  Chattanooga,  Tenn.;  J.  E.  Cortner,  Marshall,  Mo.;  J.  W. 
Pearson,  Leonard,  Tex.;  L.  B.  Morgan,  Richard  City,  Tenn.;  T.  C. 
Callicut,  Rives,  Tenn.;  S.  M.  Gough,  Gordonsville,  Ky.;  F.  A.  Brown, 
Marlow,  Okla.;  Harry  Copper,  New  Holland,  111.;  and  W.  L.  Welker, 
Funtain  City,  Tenn.— 1918,  pp.  27,  28. 

The  present  officers  of  the  Assembly's    Educational    Endowment 


230  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

Commission  are:  D.  M.  McAnulty,  Bolivar,  Tenn.,  President;  F.  A. 
Seagle,  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  Secretary  and  Treasurer.  By  leaps  and 
bounds  this  fund  is  nearing  the  two  hundred  thousand  mark,  and  is 
now,  November  20,  1919,  $167,814.08. 

XL  THE  BOARD  OF  TITHING. 

1.  History  of  This  Agency. — "As  you  consecrate  yourself  to  God, 
you  also  consecrate  your  substance;  and,  being  his  steward,  do  you 
promise  to  contribute  of  that  substance,  as  he  may  prosper  you,  to 
the  support  of  the  gospel? — Confession  of  Faith.  From  time  im- 
memorial it  has  been  the  custom  of  many  of  the  judicatories  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  to  appoint  a  committee  on  system- 
atic beneficence. 

"Your  Committee  on  Tithing  recommend  that  Ruling  Elder  Vint  N. 
Bray,  of  Springfield,  Mo.,  be  recognized  by  this  General  Assembly  as 
its  Tithing  Secretary.— 1913,  p.  200. 

The  next  Assembly,  under  recommendation  of  its  Committee  on 
Tithing,  created  a  Board  of  Tithing,  with  the  following  men  com- 
posing that  Board:  Hon.  Vint  N.  Bray,  Secretary,  Rev.  R.  H.  More- 
field,  Hon.  Frank  McDonald,  Prof.  W.  E.  Morrow,  Hon.  J.  T.  Beard, 
Rev.  H.  S.  McCord,  Rev.  C.  W.  Norwood,  and  Rev.  C.  A.  Galloway.— 
1814,   p.    164. 

The  personnel  of  this  Board,  1918:  Rev.  C.  R.  Matlock,  Rev.  W.  Y. 
Durrett,  Elder  S.  M.  Gough,  Elder  R.  B.  Shaver,  Rev.  M.  L.  Clemens, 
Elder  H.  M.  Baker,  Elder  Frank  McDonald,  Elder  Walter  E.  Mor- 
row, and  Rev.  J.  G.  Stewart. 

XIL  OTHER  BOARDS  OF  THE  ASSEMBLY. 

Other  Boards,  such  as  the  Legal  Board,  the  Board  of  Legal  Finance, 
and  the  Advisory  Board,  were  found  to  be  necessary  in  the  stirring 
times  following  the  attempted  union,  were  created  and  empowered  by 
the  Assembly,  did  well  the  work  committed  to  them;  and,  now,  under 
better  conditions,  have  been  dismissed. 

XIIL  PERMANENT  COMMITTEES  AND  COMMISSIONS. 

For  years  the  General  Assembly  has  been  in  the  habit  of  entrust- 
ing specially  important  enterprises  which  fell  outside  of  the  im- 
mediate field  of  any  of  the  boards,  to  permanent  committees  and 
commissions.  Those  which  are  active  and  serving  at  the  present 
time  are: 

Permanent  Committees:  Temperance,  Historical  Society,  Denomi- 
national Textbooks,  Endowment. 

Commissions:  War  Work,  Seminary  Visitation,  Legal  Fund,  Doc- 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  231 

trinal  Examination  of  manuscript  before  publication,  New  Cumberland 
Digest. 

RULES  OF  ORDER  FOR  CHURCH  COURTS 

THE   DELIBERATIVE   BODIES. 

There  are  four  regularly  organized  and  authorized  Church  courts 
in  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church:  the  Church  Session,  the 
Presbytery,  the  Synod,  and  the  General  Assembly. 

1.  The  Church  Session. — Meets  on  its  own  adjournment,  or  call, 
and  a  majority  constitutes  a  quorum. 

2.  The  Presbytery. — Must  meet  at  least  once  a  year,  on  its  own 
adjournment,  and  three  ordained  ministers  form  a  quorum. 

3.  The  Synod. — Must  meet  as  often  as  once  in  two  years,  all  or- 
dained ministers  and  one  elder  from  each  church  are  members,  has 
oversight  of  the  Presbyteries,  missions,  and  schools  in  its  bounds,  and 
five  ordained  ministers   constitute   a   quorum. 

4.  The  General  Assembly. — Must  meet  as  often  as  once  every  two 
years,  has  oversight  of  Synods,  the  various  Boards  of  the  Church,  its 
theological  schools  and  doctrinal  standards,  and  the  general  welfare 
of  the  denomination.  With  this  body,  twenty  commissioners  con- 
stitute a  quorum. 

1.  The  Deliberative  Body  in  Session. 

There  are  some  things  essential  to  every  Church  court:  a  presiding 
officer,  a  clerk  to  make  record  of  transactions,  a  membership  (quorum) 
present,  and  laws  to  govern  the  presentation  and  dispatch  of  whatever 
business  may  come  before  the  court.  For  our  Church  these  laws  are 
clearly  set  forth  in  "Rules  of  Order,"  in  the  Confession  of  Faith. 

2.  Order  of  Business. 

1.  Devotions. 

2.  Calling  the  roll. 

3.  Reading  of  minutes  of  last  meeting. 

4.  Communications  addressed  to  the  body. 

5.  Reports  of  standing  committees. 

6.  Reports  of  select  committees. 

7.  Unfinished  business. 

8.  New  Business. 

9.  Adjournment. 

10.  Prayer. 

3.  Some  Rules  Governing  Motions 
That  do  not  require  a  second:  (a)  orders  of  the  day;  (b)  nominations. 
Undebatable  motions:   (a)   to  adjourn;    (b)   appeals,  when  related  to 
indecorum;   (c)  to  close  debate;   (d)  to  extend  debate;   (e)  to  lay  on 
the  table;  (f)  to  limit  debate;  (g)  to  postpone  to  certain  date;  (h) 


232  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

the  previous  question;  (i)  to  read  papers;  (j)  to  suspend  the  rules; 
(k)  to  take  from  the  table;   (1)  to  withdraw  a  motion. 

Motions  which  open  the  main  question:  (a)  to  commit;  (b)  to  post- 
pone indefinitely;  (c)  to  rescind. 

Motions  which  cannot  be  amended:  (a)  to  adjourn;  (b)  to  amend  an 
amendment;  (c)  appeals;  (d)  to  lay  on  the  table;  (e)  to  take  up 
orders  of  the  day;  (f))  to  postpone  indefinitely;  (g)  the  previous 
question;  (h)  to  commit;  (i)  to  rescind;  (j)  to  suspend  the  rules; 
(k)  to  take  from  the  table. 

Motions  which  cannot  be  reconsidered:  (a)  to  adjourn;  (b)  to  lay 
on  the  table;  (c)  to  suspend  the  rules;  (d)  to  take  from  the  table. 

Motions  which  require  a  two-third  vote:  (a)  to  amend  the  i-ules; 
(b)  to  close  debate;  (c)  to  extend  debate;  (d)  to  limit  debate;  (e) 
to  put  the  previous  question;  (f)  to  make  a  special  order;  (g)  to 
suspend  the  rules;  h)  to  take  up  a  question  out  of  its  regular  order. 


INDEX 

Accused,  The,  What  if  he  fails  to  appear? 198 

Accused,  The,  Called  upon  to  say  whether  he  is  guilty 198 

Admission  of  persons  into  the  Church 70 

Adjournment,  Records  may  not  be  changed  after 105 

Adjournment,  Failure  to  meet  at  time  agreed  on 148 

Adjournment,  All  Church  courts  close  with  prayer 102 

Advisoi-y  members  and  visiting  brethren 115,  150 

Agencies  of  the  Assembly 205 

Alliance,  Pan-Presbyterian 189 

Amendments  proposed  in  woman  ordination  question 95 

Amusements,  Worldly 182 

Anniversary  of  the  Church,  The 56 

Appeal,  The  law  of  the 193 

Appeal,  Notice  of  and  reason  for  must  be  given 196 

Appeal,  The  rights  of  are  mutual  to  each  party 197 

Appeal,  The  power  to  revive  may  be  granted 197 

Appeal,  Equal  rights  to  introduce  new  testimony 197 

Appeal,  What  if  the  accused  fail  to  appear? 198 

Appeal,  Synod  cannot  be  made  a  final  court  of 153 

Appeal  pending.  Suspension  cannot  be  removed 88 

Appeal  stays  action  until  higher  court  passes  on  case 196 

Appeal  of  Mrs.  Louisa  A.  Ward 200 

Appeal  of  Rev.  D.  T.  Waynick 200 

Appeal  of  Mrs.  L.  M.  Woosley 202 

Appeals   from   session   Presbytery   decides 128 

Appeals  must  be  regularly  brought 195 

Assassination  of  President  Lincoln,  The 188 

Assembly,  The  General 28,  153 

Assembly,  The  first  meeting  of 28 

Assembly  refuses  to  change  name  of  Church 53 

Assembly  directs  sale  of  a  church  property 67 

Assembly  decides  the   rightful  ownership  of  property 64 

Assembly  has  met  annually  since  1829 155 

Assembly,  Basis  of  representation  in 157 

Assembly,  Commissioners  to 157 

Assembly,  A  quorum   of 158 

Assembly  must  meet  as  often  as  once  in  two  years 158 

Assembly,  Rejects  bi-ennial   sessions 158 

Assembly,  Provision  when  failing  to  meet  on  adjournment 159 

Assembly,  The  Stated  Clerk  of 159,   164 

Assembly,  The  Treasurer  of 161,   164 


234  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

Assembly,  Its  contingent  tax 161,  165 

Assembly  alone  may  remit  the  contingent  tax 162,  165 

Assembly,  The  Minutes  of 165 

Assembly  Minutes  examined  by  lower  courts 166 

Assembly   orders  a   new   Digest iv-vi 

Assembly  and  systematic  beneficence 74 

Assembly  should  inquire  into  ordinations 125 

Assembly  creates  the  Synod 141 

Assembly  determines  Synodic  boundaries 141 

Assembly,  The  Synod  should  obey 151 

Assembly  orders  concerning  reports  of  Boards 166 

Assembly  orders  concerning  premanent  committees 166,  167 

Assembly's  Endowment  Commission 228 

Assembly's  Standing  Rules 167 

Assembly's  Budget  Plan 76 

Assembly's  attitude  toward  other  Churches 170 

Assembly  conducts  fraternal  correspondence 171 

Assembly  repeatedly  refuses  organic  union 171 

Assembly,  Attitude  toward  certain  religious  societies 172 

Assembly  celebrates  the  Lord's  Supper  annually 174 

Assembly  on  the  preservation  of  the  Union 186 

Assembly  plans  a  theological  school 222 

Assembly  names  new  members  of  its  Board 207,  211,  215,  218 

224,  222,  226,  227 

Assembly  makes  deliverance  on  the  attempted  union 46 

Assembly,  The  agencies  of 205 

Assembly,  Other  Boards  of 230 

Assembly,  Permanent  Committees  of 230 

Assembly,   Commissions    of 230 

Assemblies,  Moderators  of  past 156 

Assemblies,  Stated  Clerks  of  past 156 

Assembly,  Attitude  towai'd  other  Churches 170 

Assembly,  Attitude  toward  certain  religious  societies 172 

Baptism,   The   sacrament   of 174 

Baptized  in  infancy,  may  one  be  baptized  again? 175 

Baptism    of   infants 175 

Baptism,  Sessions  should  enforce  the  law  concerning 176 

Baptism,  Presbyteries  should  enforce  the  law 176 

Basis   of  representation   in   General   Assembly 157 

Beneficence,  Systematic 74 

Bequests  and  gifts 69 

Bethel  College 227 

Bible,  The,  In  our  public  schools 173 

Biennial  sessions  of  General  Assembly  rejected 158 

Blanks,  The  Assembly's  statistical 169 

Boards,  Members  of  Church  Boards 168 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  235 

Board  of  Ti-ustees  of  the  General  Assembly 205 

Board  of  Publication,  Origin  and  Location 210 

Board  of  Publication,  Charter  of 212 

Board  of  Trustees,  Charter  of 207 

Board  of  Publication,  Name  changed  to  Cumberland  Presbyterian 

Board  of  Publication 214 

Board  of  Sunday  Schools  and  Young  People's  Work 215 

Board  of  Sunday  Schools  and  Publication  Unite 215 

Board  of  Missions,  Origin  and  location 216,  218 

Board  of  Missions,  Woman's 219 

Board  of  Ministerial  Relief,  Location  and  charter 224,  225 

Board  of  Education,  Charter  and  personnel 226,  227 

Board  of  Tithing,  and  present  members 230 

Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Theological  Seminary 223 

Board  of  Trustees,  Charter  and  personnel 224 

Board  of  Missions,  Relation  to  Church  under  its  care 63 

Boundaries  of  a  local  church  defined 58 

Boundaries  of  Synod  determined  by  the  General  Assembly 141 

Boundaries  of  Presbytery  determined  by  Synod 145 

Boundaries,  in  changing.  Synod  may  have  a  voice 141 

Budget  Plan,  The  Assembly's 76 

Calendar  for  offerings  changed 75 

Called  meetings  of  Presbytery 114 

Called  meetings,  Who  are  members  of 114 

Called  meetings.  May  a  Synod  hold? 143 

Candidates,  The  licensing  of 119 

Candidate  without  a  letter  of  dismission 119 

Candidate  is  amenable  to  his  church  session 120 

Card  for  systematic  beneficence  offerings 74 

Causes   without   Process 72 

Centennial  at  the  birth-place 57 

Centennial,  Special  Standing  Committees 57 

Centennial  sermons  and  papers 57 

Change  of  the  name  of  the  Church  refused 53,  54,  55 

Change  of  venue  in  trials  not  permitted 194 

Changes  in  the  Form  of  Government 28 

Charge,  The,  Not  to  be  omitted  in  ordination 128 

Charter,  Assembly's  Board  of  Trustees 207 

Charter,  Board  of  Missions 219 

Charter,  Board  of  Publication 212 

Charter,  Woman's  Board  of  Missions 220 

Charter,  Trustees  of  Theological  Seminary 224 

Charter,  Board  of  Ministerial  Relief 225 

Church,  The 50 

Church,  The,  Defined 50 

Church,  The  Cumberland  Presbyterian 50 


236  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

Church,  The  Anniversary  of 56 

Church,  A  Particular 55 

Church,  A,  Represented  in  Presbytery 60 

Church,  Boundaries  of  a  particular 59 

Church,  Assembly  determines  the  rightful  claimant 64 

Church,  Local,  of  its  title  to  property 66 

Church,  Duty  of  supporting  the 74 

Church  cannot  be  dissolved  without  its  consent 62 

Church  property,  Assembly  directs  sale  of 67 

Church  property,   Form  of  Deed  to 64 

Church   property,   Rightful   ownership   of 69 

Church   Property,  Title  to 66 

Church  Courts 101 

Church  Courts,  Moderator  of 103 

Church  Courts,  The  Clerks  of 104 

Church  Courts,  The  Treasurer  of 105 

Church  Courts,  Must  be  opened  and  closed  with  prayer 102 

Church,  A,  Becoming  a  constituent  of  Presbytery 60 

Church  Boards,  and  the  regulations  for 166 

Church  Boards,  The  members  of 168 

Church  Courts  must  examine  Assembly  Minutes 166 

Church  Courts,  Presiding  Over 231 

Church  Courts,  Rules  goveniing  business  in 231 

Church  Covenant,  Form  of 70 

Church  Members 69 

Church  Members,  Admitting 70 

Church  Members,  from  other  Churches 71 

Church    Members,   Names   dropped 73 

Church  Members,  Under  jurisdiction  of  session 72 

Church  Member,  May  be  retired  when? 110 

Church   Officers   78 

Church,   The   Centennial  of 56 

Church  Session  may  retire  name  of  m.ember  when? 110 

Church  Session  has  the  care  of  the  Sunday  School 111 

Church  Session  may  be  dissolved  by  Presbytery 112 

Church  Session,  A  licentiate  is  amenable  to 120 

Church   Session,   The 106 

Church  Sessions  have  no  jurisdiction  over  ministers 131 

Church  Session,  The  Moderator  of 107 

Church  Session,  The  Clerk  of 108 

Church  Session,  May  hold  meetings  in  absence  of  minister 108 

Church  Session  has  jurisdiction  over  its  members 72,  109 

Church  Session,  Process  against  elder  or  deacon 109 

Churches,  Presbytery  has  the  power  to  group 137 

Churches,  Grouping  of  an  order  of  Assembly 137 

Churches,  Presbytery  has  the  power  to  unite 138 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  237 

Churches,  Presbytery  has  the  power  to  divide 138 

Circular  Letter,  The 2 

Clerks  of  Church  Courts 104 

Clerks  of  past  Assemblies 156 

Clerk  of  the  session 108 

Clerk  of  the  Presbytery 115 

Clerk  of  the  session  should  keep  record  of  moneys 108 

Clerk  is  creature  of  the  church  session 108 

Clerk  of  the  Synod 145 

Clerks,  Inefficient,  to  be  removed 104 

Commission,  Ordination  by 126 

Commissions  of  the  Assembly 230 

Commissioners  to  the  General  Assembly 157 

Commissioner,  Elder  not  member,  ejected 99 

Commissioner  need  not  necessarily  be  a  pastor 158 

Commissioner  must  remain  in  body  till  final  roll  call 158 

Commissioner  accountable  to  his  Presbytery 158 

Committee  on  Pastorates  and  Supplies 134 

Committee,  Who  are  competent  to  act  on 85 

Communion  of  the  Lord's  Supper 176 

Communion  should  be  celebrated  once  a  quarter 176 

Communion,  Pure  fruit  of  the  vine  should  be  used  in 176 

Compact  Entered  into 17 

Complaint,    A    defined 194 

Complaint  of  Rev.  Harrison  Whitson 199 

Complaints,   Presbytery  decides 128 

Confession  of  Faith,  Ordered  to  be  prepared 26 

Confession  of  Faith   (of  Synod)    revised 28 

Confession  of  Faith,  Assembly  adopts 38 

Confession  of  Faith  must  be  adopted  by  all  officers 82,  116 

Confession,  Final  action  on  revision 44 

Congregation,  When  may  Presbytery  cut  off 62 

Congregational  bounds  defined 59,  61 

Commission,  The  Assembly's  Endowment 228 

Constitution,  Proposed  amendments  (Woman's  question) 95 

Constitution  of  the  Woman's  Board  of  Missions 221 

Constituent  elements  of  the  Presbytery 113 

Constituent  elements  of  the  Synod 141 

Contingent  Tax  of  the  General  Assembly 161 

Contingent  Tax  based  upon  number  of  communicants 162 

Contingent  Tax,  Stated  Clerk  cannot  remit 162 

Corresponding  Members 150 

Course  of  study  for  ordination 126 

Courts  of  the  Church 101 

Court  of  Final  Appeal  is  the  Assembly 198 

Covenant,  A  form  of  church  covenant 70 


238  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  The 50 

Cumberland  Presbytery 1 

Cumberland  Synod 23 

Deacon,  The 99 

Deacon  may  not  be  elected  for  a  limited  time 100 

Deacon,  Who  should  be  chosen  to  this  office? 100 

Deacons  must  keep  a  record 100 

Deacon,  The   Church   Session  may   retire 111 

Defection   into   another   Church 208 

Defection  of  the  (Union)  Board  of  Missions 208 

Deliberative  Bodies,  Rules  for 231 

Delinquent  Presbyteries,  Stated  Clerk  must  rcport 163 

Delin(iuent  Presbyteries  reported  also  to  Synod 163 

Deliverances  of  Assembly  on  Worldly  Amusements 182 

Deliverances  of  Assembly  on  Temperance 184 

Deliverances  of  the  Assembly  on  the  use  of  tobacco 186 

Deliverances  of  the  Assembly  on  War  Resolutions  (1861) 187 

Deliverances  on  the  World-War  (1914-1918) 189 

Deliverances  on  the  Roman  Catholic  Church ISO 

Demit  his  office,  A  minister  may 88 

Deposed  minister,  Restoring  a 87 

Directory  of  ministers 88 

Directory  for  joining  the  church  by  letter 71 

Dismission,  A  letter  of 72 

Dissents  and  Protests 194 

Doctrines,  First  written  statement  of  our 23,  25 

Doctrine,  Presbytery  decides  questions  of 131 

Double  Voting   (Repeating)    Sustained 85 

Double  Voting  (Repeating)  Condemned 86 

Dropping  names  from  the  church  roll 73 

Di-opped  from  the  roll,  a  licentiate  may  be 120 

Early   Missionary   Work  of  the   Church 216 

Education,  The  Board  of 226 

Education,   Permanent   Endowment 228 

Elders,  Ruling 93 

Elders,  Who  should  be  elected  to  this  office? 93 

Elder  cannot  be  elected  for  a  limited  time 96 

Elder  may  be  elected  to  preside  over  the  body 97 

Elder  not  compelled  to  vote  as  instnacted  (?) 99 

Elder,  not  a  member,  may  be  sent  to  Assembly 99 

Elder,  His  session  may  retire  him 111 

Elder,  not  a  member,  may  serve  on  Permanent  Committees 98 

Elder   resigns  to  whom? 110 

Elk  and  Logan  Presbyteries  Foi-med 21 

Endowment  Commission,  The  Assembly's 228 

Equable,  The  Sustaining  Tax  must  be 137 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  239 

European  War,  Assembly's  attitude  toward 189 

Expunge  from  the  record  unanimious  vote  necessary 105 

Electing  Elders   to   Moderate 97 

Family  Worship   177 

Final  adoption  of  the  Confession  of  Faith 44 

Final  Roll  Call,  Members  should  answer  to 157 

First  printed  statement  of  our  doctrines 23  et  seq. 

Fiscal  Year,  When  does  it  close? 169 

First  Meeting  of  the  Assembly 155 

Foi-mation  of  the  Assembly 154 

Foi-m  of  Church  Govemment,  Changes  in 28 

Form  of  Church  Government 34 

Form  of  Deed  to  church  property 64 

Forthcoming  letter  is  an  obsolete  custom 117 

Founders  of  the  Church 1 

Fruit  of  the  vine  used  in  communion 176 

General  Assembly,  The 153 

General  Assembly,  The  Fomiation  of 154 

General  Assembly,  The  First  Meeting  of 155 

General  Assembly,  Basis  of  representation  in 157 

General  Assembly,  A  Quoi-um  in 158 

General  Assembly  must  meet  once  in  two  years 158 

General  Assembly,  Provisions  for  when  it  fails  to  meet 159 

General  Assembly  has  met  annually  since  1829 155 

General  Assembly,  The  Stated  Clerk  of 159,  165 

General  Assembly,  Duties  of  the   Stated  Clerk 160 

General  Assembly,  The  Treasurer  of 161,  164 

General  Assembly,   The,   in  Communion 177 

General  Assembly,  The  Contingent  Tax  to 161 

General  Assembly,  Taxes  Presbyteries,  not  preachers 162 

General  Assembly,  Attitude  toward  other  Churches 170 

General  Assembly  conducts  fraternal  correspondence 171 

General  Assembly  repeatedly  refuses  organic  union 171 

General  Assembly  enters  Pan-Presbyterian  Alliance 189 

General  Assembly  plans  a  Theological  School 222 

General  Assembly,  Agencies  of 205 

General  Assembly,  Board  of  Ti-ustees  of 205 

General  Assembly  commends  its  weekly  papers 214 

General  Assemblies,  Moderators  of  the  past 156 

General  Assemblies,  Stated  Clerks  of  the  past 156 

Gifts    and    Bequests 69 

Grouping  of  Churches ^^" 

Grouping  of  Churches,  Presbytery  has  the  power 137 

Grouping  of  Churches  is  an  order  of  the  Assembly 137 

Group  of  Churches  must  obey  orders 137 

Historical   Papers  ^' 


240  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

Historical   Statement 1 

Home,  The  Widows'  and  Orphans' 226 

How  often  must  Presbytery  meet? 113 

Inefficient  Clerks  to  be  removed 104 

Infants,  The   Baptism  of 175 

Introduction   (to  the  Digest) iii 

Invited,  An  invited  Moderator  cannot  vote 107 

Joining   the   Church 70 

Judiciary,  The 193 

Judicial  Deliverances 193 

Jurisdiction  over  a  dismissed  minister 83 

Jurisdiction  over  the  church  member 109 

Lay  Worker,  Who  should  license? 122 

Law,  The,  Stated 193 

Law,  The,  Applied 198 

Letter,   The   Circular 2 

Letter  of  Dismission 72 

License,  What  Presbytery  may  restore? 122 

Licensure,  The  examination  preceding 119 

Licensure,  Qualifications  for 118 

Licentiate,    Status   declared 83 

Licentiate  may  serve  as  a  representative 137 

Licentiate  amenable  to  his  church  session 120 

Licentiate,  name  dropped  without  reason 120 

Licentiate  may  perform  the  marriage  ceremony 121 

Licentiate,  name  dropped  from  the  roll 120 

Licentiate  sits  in  Presbytery  as  a  representative 122 

List  of  Stated  Clerks 159 

Logan  and  Elk   Presbyteries  formed 21,   22 

Lord's  Day,  the  sanctification  of 178 

Lord's   Supper,  The 176 

Loyalists  enter  protest 46 

May  a  probationer  serve  as  a  ruling  elder? 121 

McGready,  Rev.  James 3 

Meetings  of  Synod 143 

Members,  Admitting  into  the  church 70 

Members,   Resident  and  non-resident 62 

Members  of  Church  Boards,  laws  regulating  them 167,  169 

Members  of  Synod  must  attend  its  meetings 142 

Members  of  one  Presbytery  living  in  another 82 

Memorial  of  Rev.  Harrison  Whitson 199 

Men  chosen  to  the  office  of  deacon 99 

Memorial  to  open  the  case  of  Mrs.  Woosley 203 

Merger,  The  loyalists  protest 46 

Merger,  Assembly  make  deliverance  on 46 

Merging  of  two  Boards,  Publication  and  Sunday  Schools 215 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  241 

Minister  an  officer  of  the  church 80 

Minister  preferred  to  bishop   as  his   title 81 

Minister  must  adopt  the  Confession  of  Faith 82,  116 

Minister  may  not   encroach  another's  field 82 

Minister  living  in  one  Presbytery  and  membership  in  another 82 

Minister  who  has  entered  another  communion 84 

Minister  may  not  fill  two  conflicting  offices 85 

Minister  may  demit  from  his  office 88 

Minister  may  transfer  membership  by  letter  only 117 

Minister  can  be  received  by  letter  only 117 

Minister  cannot  be  received  on  "Letter  to  follow" 117 

Minister,  Who  has  jurisdiction  over  dismissed? 83 

Minister  holding  letter  cannot  sit  in  Synod 83 

Minister,  Petitions  to  return  into  the  Communion 84 

Minister  suspended,  Relation  of  to  Presbytery 86 

Minister,  Restoring  a  suspended  or  deposed 87 

Minister,  Synod  may  not  transfer  membership  of 147 

Ministers  to  be  directed  by  their  Presbyteries 82 

Ministers  must  attend  the  meetings  of  Synod 86 

Ministers,  A  directory  of  to  be  printed  in  the  Minutes 88 

Ministers,  Presbytery  has  power  to  receive 116 

Ministers,  Presbytery  has  power  to  judge 128 

Ministers,  Presbytery  can  censure  its  own 130 

Ministers  are  under  the  oversight  of  Presbytery 131 

Ministers,  Ordained,  are  not  to  be  examined  again 138 

Ministers  should  set  good  example  in  Sabbath  observance 180 

Ministers,  a  mortuary  list  to  be  printed  in  minutes 170 

Ministry,  a  woman  may  not  be  ordained  into  the 88 

Minutes  may  not  be  corrected  after  review 152 

Minutes  of  the  General  Assembly 165 

Minutes  of  Assembly  to  be  examined  by  lower  courts 166 

Ministerial   Relief,  The    Board   of 225 

Miscellaneous  Regulations,  The  Assembly's 163 

Missions,  The   Board   of 216 

Mission  Church,  A,  and  the  Board  of  Missions 63 

Missions,  The  Woman's  Board  of 219 

Moderator  of  the  Church  Courts 103 

Moderator  of  the  Church  Session 107 

Moderator  (Invited)   cannot  vote 107 

Moderator  of  Presbytery 114 

Moderator  of  the   Synod 145 

Moderators  of  the  past  Assemblies 156 

Mortuary  list  of  ministers  printed  in  minutes 170 

Motions,  Rules  of.  Governing  in  Church  Courts 231 

Name  of  church  member  may  be  retired  when? 73 

Names  retired  upon  a  separate  roll 73 


242  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

New  church,  The  organizing  of 58 

New  church  enters  Presbytery  when? 60 

New  Digest  ordered  by  Assembly iv-vi 

New  witnesses  may  be  introducted  in  trial 197 

No  change  of  venue  may  be  permitted 194 

Non-resident  members,  Who  are  they? 62 

Notice  of  appeal  and  reasons  must  be  given  the  court 196 

Non-attendance,  Process  against 73 

Non-resident  List 73 

Offerings,  The  calendar  for,  changed 75 

Officers   of  the   Church 78 

Officers  cannot  be  deposed  except  by  trial 96 

One  Hundred  and  Two  Loyal  Commissioners,  The 48 

Office  of  Deacon,  Men  chosen  to  this 99 

Order  of  Business  in  Church  Courts 231 

Ordination  Service,  The 126 

Ordination  Prayer  and  Charge  not  to  be  omitted 128 

Ordinations  under  review  of  Synod 151 

Ordination  on  the  Sabbath  Day 128 

Ordination  by  Commission 126 

Ordinations,  Assembly  should  inquire  into 125 

Organic  Union,  Assembly  has  repeatedly  refused 171 

Organizing  a  new   church 58 

Organizing  a  new  church,  when  forbidden 59 

Origin  of  our  Church  name 52 

Oi'igin  of  Pastorates  and  Supplies  Committee 134 

Original  Jurisdiction,  Session  has  over  members 109 

Orphans'  and  Widows'  Home,  The 226 

Orphans'  Home,  The   Managei's  of 226 

Other  Agencies  of  the  Assembly 230 

Papers  and  Periodicals 214 

Particular  Church,  A 58 

Pastors  should  require  Sabbath  observance 180 

Pastorates  and  Supplies  Committee 134 

Permanent  Committees,   Reports   of 166 

Permanent  Committees  of  Assembly 230 

Personnel  of  Woman's  Board  of  Missions 222 

Petition  of  a  defected  minister 84 

Powers  of  Presbytery 115 

Power  to  revive  an  appeal . 197 

Prayer  and  charge  not  to  be  omitted  in  ordination 128 

Prayer,  All  courts  open  and  close  with 102 

Presbytery,  The 112 

Presbytery,  The  constituent  elements  of 113 

Presbytery,  What  is  a  quorum  of 113 

Presbytei'y,  Special  meetings  of — 114 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  243 

Presbytery,  How  often  must  it  meet? 113 

Presbytery,  Provision  when  failing  to  meet 114 

Presbytery,  Organized  by  Synodical  Authority 112 

Presbytery,  What  church  can  be  represented  in? 113 

Presbytery,  Relation  of  a  dismissed  minister  to 83 

Presbytery,  The  Moderator  of 114 

Presbytery,  The  Stated  Clerk  of 115 

Presbyteiy,  Courtesies  to  visitors  defined 115 

Presbytery,  Its  Powers 115 

Presbytery  has  power  to  receive  ministers 116 

Pi'esbytery  cannot  receive  members  on  promise  of  a  letter 117 

Presbytery  has  power  to  receive  and  license  probationers 118 

Presbytery  may  drop  name  of  licentiate  from  roll 120 

Presbytery  ordains  to  the  full  work  of  the  ministry 123 

Piesbytery   decides   complaints   and   appeals 128 

Presbytery  judges  its  ministers 128 

Presbytery  has  power  to  censure  its  ministers 130 

Presbytery  has  power  to  remove  suspension 180 

Presbytery  may  rescind  its  owti  acts 130 

Prefbytei-y  has  power  to  pass  upon  doctrines 131 

Presbytery  has  rights  over  its  ministers 131 

Presbytery  has  rights  over  its  churches 132 

Presbytery  seeks  welfare  of  its  churches 63,  133 

Presbytery  has  power  to  unite  or  divide  churches 138 

Presbytery  cannot  examine  ordained  ministers 138 

Presbytery  may  elect  a  commissioner  who  is  not  a  member 99 

Presbytery  may  commission  an  elder  who  is  not  a  member 99 

Presbytery  allows  elder,  not  a  member,  to  represent  his  church 139 

Presbytery  is  order  by  Synod  to  drop  name  from  roll 148 

Presbytery,  An  unconstitutional   demand  from   Synod 150 

Presbytery,  Commissioners  are  accountable  to 158 

Presbytery,  not  the  preacher,  is  taxed 162 

Presbytery,  The  Stated  Clerk  of 115 

Presbytery,  Called  meetings  of 114 

Presbytery,  Who  ai"e  members  of  called  meetings? 114 

Presbytery,  Synod  orders  to  correct  minutes 152 

Presbytery,  A  new  church  enters 60 

Presbytery  cannot  dissolve  church  without  its  consent 62 

Presbytery  may  cut  off  a  church  when? 62 

PiBsbytery  rightful  owner  when  not  otherwise  expressed 69 

Pi'esbyteries  may  elect  elders  to  positions 139 

Presbyteries  should  enforce  the  church  laws 176 

Presbyterial  boundaries,  Synod  deteiTnines 145 

Presbyterial  irregularities  Synod  cannot  heal 147 

Presbyterial  and  Synodical  meetings 165 

Presbyterial  Alliance,  Assembly  Enters 189 


244  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

Preservation  of  the  Federal  Union 186 

Presiding  over  a  church  court 231 

Probationer,  May  he  serve  as  ruling  elder? 121 

Probationers,  Presbytery  receives  and  licences 118 

Probationers,    Qualifications   for,    Licensure 118 

Probationers,   Presbytery   alone   may   ordain 118 

Process  against  an  elder  or  deacon 109 

Protests  and  Dissents 194 

Protest  against  the  merger 46 

Proof-Texts  of  the  Confession  of  Faith 35,  37 

Provision  for  failure  to  meet  in  church  courts 114,  143 

Publication,  The  Board  of 210 

Public  Schools,  The  Bible  in  Our 173 

Publish  Names  Chairmen  Pastorates  and  Supplies 136 

Qualifications   for   Licensure 118 

Quorum,  What  Constitutes  in  Presbytery 113 

Quorum,  What  Constitutes  in  Synod 141 

Quorum,  What  Constitutes   in   General  Assembly 158 

Reasons  for  Confessional  Revision 31 

Reasons  why  we  do  not  change  our  name 53,  54,  55 

Records,  Verbal  testimony  not  admissible  in 105 

Records,  To  expunge  matter  from 105 

Records,   Deacons   must  keep 100 

Reception  of  church  members 70,  71 

Records  may  not  be  changed  after  adjournment 105 

Regulations  governing  the  State  Clerk 163 

Relation  of  a  suspended  minister  to  Presbytery 86 

Remanding   with    instructions 149 

Report  on  Revision  of  Confession  of  Faith 38 

Representative  not  enrolled  before  church  is  received 139 

Reports  of  Boards  and  Permanent  Committees 166 

Representative,  a  licentiate  serves  as 137 

Rescind  its  acts.  Presbytery  has  the  power  to 130 

Resident  and  non-resident  members 62 

Restoring  a  deposed  minister 87 

Retiring  a  ruling  elder  from  office 111 

Revision,  Reason  for 31 

Revision,  The  final  action  upon 44 

Rev.  James  McGready 3 

Rev.  David  Rice 4 

Rev.  Harrison  Whitson,  memorial  of 199 

Rightful  ownership  of  property  determined 69 

Roman  Catholic  Church,  Deliverance  on 190 

Rotation  in  office 97 

Ruling   Elder,   The 93 

Ruling  Elder,  Who  shold  be  elected  to  this  office 93 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  245 

Ruling  Elder  cannot  be  elected  for  a  limited  time 96 

Ruling  Elder  cannot  be  deposed  except  by  trial 96 

Ruling  Elder  elected  to  moderate  church  courts 97 

Ruling  Elder,  not  a  member,  may  be  made  a  commissioner 99 

Ruling  Elder  not  compelled  to  vote  as  insturcted  (?) 99 

Ruling  Elder,  To  whom  should  he  resign? 110 

Rules  of  Order  for  Church  Courts 231 

Rules  in  parliament,  governing  the  motion 231 

Sabbath  Day,  How  it  should  be  spent 179 

Sabbath  Day,  Church  members'  duty  therein 179 

Sabbath  Observance  Committee  a  Requirement  in  Presbytery 180 

Sabbath  Observance,  Ministers  to  set  a  good  example 180 

Sacraments,  The 174 

Sanctification  of  the  Lord's  Day 178 

Seated,  Who  Seated  in  Church  Courts 148 

Secret  Worship 177 

Seminary,  The  Theological 222 

Separate  Roll,  Retired  upon  a 73 

Sessions  should  enforce  the  law  concerning  baptism 176 

Session,  The   Church 106 

Session,  The,  has  care  of  the  Sunday  school 111 

Session  may  retire  an  elder 111 

Special  meetings  of  Presbytery 114 

Standing  Rules  of  the  Assembly 167 

Stated  Clerk  of  the  General  Assembly 159 

Stated  Clerk  of  the  Assembly,  Duties  of 160 

Stated  Clerk  may  be  appointed  by  the  Moderator 160 

Stated  Clerk  reports  delinquent  Presbyteries  to  Synod 163 

Stated  Clerk  of  foi-mer  Assemblies,  List  of 159 

Stated  Clerk,  Regulations  governing 164 

Stated  Clerk  may  not  remit  contingent  tax 162 

Stated  Clerk  of  Presbytery 115,   165 

Stated  Clerks  of  foiTner  Assemblies 156 

Status  of  licentiate  declared . 83 

Statistical  Blanks 169 

■Sunday  Mails  and  Sunday  Trains 180 

Sunday  schools  under  care  of  church  session 111 

Supper,  Communion  of  ^e  Lord's 176 

Supporting  the  Church 74 

Suspended  or  deposed  minister,  restoring  a 87 

Suspension  holds  while  appeal  is  pending 88 

Suspension,  Pi-esbytery  has  power  to  remove 130 

Sustaining  taxes  must  be  equable 137 

Synod   Formed,   The   140 

Synod,  The  constituents  of 140 

Synod,  What  constitutes  a  quorum 141 


246  NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST. 

Synod,  Created  by  the   General  Assembly 141 

Synod,   Boundaries    determined   by   Assembly 141 

Synod,  The  members  should  attend 142 

Synod,  The  meetings  of 143 

Synod,  Provisions  for  when  it  fails  to  meet 143 

Synod,  May  a  Synod  have  a  called  meeting? 143 

Synod,  Meeting  after  its  adjoununent  time 144 

Synod,   The   Moderator   of 145 

Synod,  The  Clerk  of 145 

Synod,  One  holding  a  letter  cannot  sit  in 83 

Synod,  Advisory  Members  of 150 

Synod,  Visiting   Brethren  in 150 

Synod,  Only  regular  ministers  and  elders  may  sit  in 152 

Synod  has  voice  in  changing  its  boundaries 141 

Synod  determines  Presbyterial  boundaries 145 

Synod  may  not  transfer  a  minister 147 

Synod  should  name  Presbytery  in  making  out  a  roll 147 

Synod  cannot  legalize  irregularities  of  Presbytery 147 

Synod  may  order  Presbytery  to  drop  a  name  from  roll 148 

Synod  may  remand  Avith  insti-uctions 149 

Synod  must  not  make  unlawful  demands  upon  Presbytery 150 

Synod  meeting  on  Sunday  not  commendable 151 

Synod  may  not  correct  minutes  after  reviewed  by  Assembly 152 

Synod  may  direct  Presbytery  to  correct  its  minutes 152 

Synod  cannot  be  made  a  court  of  final  appeal 153 

Synod  alone  has  power  to   create  a   Presbytery 145 

Synod  must  review  ordinations  in  its  Presbyteries 151 

Synod  has  not  jurisdiction  over  the  minister 101,  102 

Synodical  and  Presbyterial  Meetings 165 

Systematic  Beneficence 120 

Table   of  Contents vli 

Taxes  for  sustentation  must  be  equable 137 

Temperance,  Deliverances  on 184 

Theological    Seminary,   The 222 

Theological  School,  Assembly  Plans 222 

Tithing,  The  Board  of 230 

Title  to  church  property 66 

Title  depends  on  specific  terms  in  the  deed 66 

Titles  not  to  be  printed  after  names  in  the  minutes 169 

To  whom  does  a  ruling  elder  resign? 110 

Tobacco,  Resolutions  on  the  use  of 186 

Transfer  of  membership  is  by  letter  only 117 

Treasurer,  The,  of  Church  Courts 105 

Treasurer  of  the  General  Assembly 161,  164 

Trial  for  Ordination,  Course  of  Study  for 123,  127 

Trustees  of  the  Theological  Seminary . 223 


NEW  CUMBERLAND  DIGEST.  247 

Trustees  of  the  General  Assembly 224 

Unanimous  vote  required  to  expunge  from  records 105 

Union,  organic,  repeatedly  fails 171 

Union,  The  Assembly  on  the  preservation  of 186 

Venue,  Change  of,  not  permitted 194 

Verbal  testimony  not  admissible  in  records , 105 

Victoria  Jackson  Home,  The 226 

Visiting  Brethren 115,  150 

Ward,  Mrs.  Julia  A,  the  appeal  of 200 

War-Work  Committee,  Report  of 189 

Waynick,  Rev.  D.  T.,  the  appeal  of 200 

What  Presbytery  may  restore  a  license? 122 

When  may  a  church  be  represented  in  Presbytery? 113 

When  may  Presbytery  cut  off  a  church? 62 

When  the  organizing  of  a  new  church  is  forbidden 58 

When  may  a  church  session  be  dissolved  by  Presbytery? 112 

Witnesses,  New  witnesses  may  be  introduced 197 

Whitson,  Rev.  Harrison,  The  memorial  of 199 

Who  may  be  seated  in  the  body? 148 

Who  is  competent  to  act  on  committees? 85 

Who  should  be  elected  ruling  elders? 93 

Who  are  members  of  a  called  meeting? 114 

Who  has  jurisdiction  over  a  dismissed  minister? 83 

Who  has  original  jurisdiction  over  church  members? 106 

Woman's  Board  of  Missions,  The 219 

Woman,  A,  may  not  be  ordained  to  the  ministry 88 

Woman,  A,  may  not  be  ordained  a  ruling  elder 94 

Woman,  A,  may  be  ordained  a  ruling  elder 94 

Woman,  A,  seated  in  Assembly  as  a  Commissioner 94 

Women  may  be  officially  appointed  to  care  for  the  sick 100 

Woosley,  Mrs.  L.  M.,  The  appeal  of 202 

World-War  Deliverances 189 

Worldly  Amusements,  Assembly's  attitude  toward 182 

Worship,  family  and  secret 177 

Year,  When  the  Fiscal  Year  Closes 169 

Young  People's  Work,  Board  of 215 


SUNDAYS  CALENDAR— 1918  TO  1932. 


1918 


Jan. 
Feb. 
Mar. 
Apr. 
May 
June 
July 
Aug. 
Sept. 
Oct. 
Nov. 
Dec. 


I  6|13|20|27|.. 
1  3|10|17|24|.. 
I  3|10|17|24|31 
I  7|14|21|28|.. 
I  5|12|19|26|.. 
I  2|  9|16|23|30 
I  7|14|21|28 
I  4|11|18|25 
1|   8|15|22 


Jan. 

Feb. 

Mar. 

April 

May 

June 

July 

Aug. 

Sept. 

Oct. 

Nov. 

Dec. 


Jan. 

Feb. 

Mar. 

April 

May 

June 

July 

Aug. 

Sept. 

Oct. 

Nov. 

Dec. 


Jan. 

Feb. 

Mar. 

April 

May 

June 

July 

Aug. 

Sept. 

Oct. 

Nov. 

Dec. 


Jan. 

Feb. 

Mar. 

April 

May 

June 

July 

Aug. 

Sept. 

Oct. 

Nov. 

Dec. 


6|13120 

3|10|17 
1|   8|l5 


29 


29 


5|12|19126|.. 
2  9  16  23].. 
21   9|l6|23|30 


6|13 

4|11 
11  8 
6|13 

3|10 
7|14 
5|12 
2|   9 

7114 


1920 


4|11 

11   8 

7|14 

4|11 

2|   9 

6|13 

4|11 

II   8 

5|12 

I   3|10 

I   7|14 

I   5|12 


1921 


2|   9 

6|13 

6|13 

3|10 

II   8 

5|12 

3|10 

7|14 

4|11 

I   2|   9 

I   6|13 

I   4|11 


1922 


.  II   8 

•  I  5|12 

•  5|12 
•I  2|   9 

•  t  7|l4 
.1  4111 
.1  21  9 
.1  6113 
.1  3110 
.1  11   8 

•  I  5|12 
.1  3|10 


27|.. 
251 


29 


25|.. 
22129 
28|.. 
251 .  . 
23130 
27|.. 
25|.. 
22|29 
261.  . 
24131 
28|.. 
26].. 


23|30 

27  .. 
271.. 
24|.. 
22|29 
26|.  . 
24|31 
28|.. 
251.. 
23130 
28|.. 
25|.. 


22|29 
26|.. 
261 .  . 
23|30 
28|.. 
251 .  . 
23130 
27|.. 
241.. 
22129 
261.. 
24  31 


1923 


Jan. 

Feb. 

Mar. 

April 

May 

June 

July 

Aug. 

Sept. 

Oct. 

Nov. 

Dec. 


14|21|28|..| 

11|18(25|..| 

11  19|25|..| 

8|l5|22|29| 

13|20|27|..| 

10|17|24i..| 

8|15|22|29| 

5|12|19|26|..| 

21   9|16|23|30| 

7|14|21|28|..| 

4|11|18|25|..| 

21   9|16|23|30| 


1928 


Jan. 

Feb. 

Mar. 

April 

May 

June 

July 

Aug. 

Sept. 

Oct. 

Nov. 

Dec. 


30 


6|13|20|27 

3|10|17|24 

21   9|16|23 

6|13|20|27 

4|11|18|25|..| 

1|   8|15|22|29| 

6|13|20|27|..| 

3|10|17|24|31| 

7il4|21|28|..| 

5|12|19|26|..| 

2|   9116123|30| 

7|14|21|28|..| 


1925 


Jan. 

Feb. 

Mar. 

April 

May 

June 

July 

Aug. 

Sept. 

Oct. 

Nov. 

Dec. 


11|18|25|..| 

8|15|22|..| 
8|15|22l29| 
I  5|12|19|26|..| 
■   3|10|17|24|31| 


14|21|28|..| 

12|19|26|..| 

9|16|23|30| 

13|20|27|..| 

11|18|25|..| 
8|15|22|29 


6|13|20|27|..| 


1926 


Jan. 

Feb. 

Mar. 

April 

May 

June 

July 

Aug. 

Sept. 

Oct. 

Nov. 

Dec. 


I   3|10|17|24|31| 

i   7|14|21|28  .  .1 

I   7|14|21|28|..| 

I   4|n|18|25|..| 

2|   9|16|23|30| 

6|13|20|27|..| 

4|11|18|25|..| 

1|   8|15|22|29| 

5|12|19|26|..| 

3|10|17|24131| 

7|14|21|28|..| 

5|12|19|26|..| 


1927 


Jan. 

Feb. 

Mar. 

April 

May 

June 

July 

Aug. 

Sept. 

Oct. 

Nov. 

Dec. 


21  9|16 
6113120 
6113120 
3110117 
1|  8|15 
5112119 


3|10 
7|14 
4|11 
2|  9 
6113 


4111118 


|23|301 
|27i..| 
I27I..I 
1241.. I 
1221291 
I26I..1 
|24|31| 
1281.. I 
1251.. I 
231301 
|27|..| 
I25I..I 


Jan 1   11   81151 

Feb 1   51121191 

Mar I   4|nil8| 

April    11   81151 

May     I   6|13120| 

June    1  31101171 

July     I   1|   8|15| 

Aug I   BI12I191 

Sept I   2|   91161 

Oct I   71141211 

Nov I   4|11|181 

Dec I  2|  9|16| 


221291 

26 

25| 

221291 

27|.. 

241.. 

221291 

261 

23|30| 

281..  I 

251 

231301 


1929 


Jan 1   6113120 

Feb I   3110117 

Mar I   3|10|17 

April    I   7114121 

May     I   5112119 

June    I  21  9116 

July     1   7114121 

Aug 1   4111118 

Sept I    1|   8|15 

Oct I   6|13|20 

Nov I   3|10|17 

Dec I   1|   8115 


271 
241 
1241311 
281., 
1261.. 
231301 
28| 
251 
221291 
27|. 
241. 
122|29| 


1930 


Jan I  5112119 

Feb I  21   91161 

Mar 1  21   91161 

April    I  61131201 

May     1  41111181 

June     1  1|   81151 

July     I  61131201 

Aug 1  31101171 

Sept 1  71141211 

Oct I  51121191 

Nov I  21   91161 

Dec I  71141211 


26| 

23|..l 

231301 

27  .. 

251.. 

221291 

271. 

241311 

281.. 

261.. 

231301 

281 


1931 


Jan. 

Feb. 

Mar. 

April 

May 

June 

July 

Aug. 


4111118125 
1|  8115122 
1|  8115122 
5112119126 
3110117124 
7114121128 
5112119126 
21   9116123 


Sept 1  6113120127 

Oct I  4|nil8125 

Nov I  11   8115122 

Dec I  6113120127 


1932 


Jan I   3110117 

Feb I   7114121 

Mar I   6113120 

April    I   3  10117 


May 
June 
July 
Aug. 
Sept. 
Oct. 
Not, 
Dec. 


1|  8|15 
5|12|19 
3|10|17 
7114121 
4111118 
21  9|16 
6113120 
4111118 


1241311 

|28|. 

|27|. 

|24|. 

|22|29| 

1261 

1241311 

|28| 

51.. I 
|23|30| 
1271 
1251 


DATE  DUE 

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PRINTED  IN  USA. 

